Setting great family goals for 2024 brings deeper relationships and a happier new year – even if you’re the only one working on it.
What are you family goals for 2024?
The new year is coming fast. And this is a great time to think about how you want to be INTENTIONAL with your family relationships in the new year!
The holiday season and start of a new year is the perfect time to reflect on what’s working, what’s not working, and what you want to do about it.
Of course, you might have some family goals for 2024 that no one else in your family is able (or maybe willing) to work on.
But guess what?
You can still make massive progress on YOUR family goals – all by yourself!
Let’s take a look at how to set goals for your Christian family relationships in the new year… even if you’re the only one working on it.
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Enjoying family life in the new year
Setting goals is such a fun part of the new year. And if you want to enjoy family life in the year ahead and deepen your relationships, there are some great goals that can help you do just that!
In today’s post, we’ll take a look at the big picture together. Why bother setting goals? What sort of family goals should you pursue? Can you really make an impact if you’re doing it all by yourself?
If you want some help thinking through the specifics of how to take action on your goals, just stay tuned for next week’s blogpost!
Setting family goals for 2024
You might have dozens of goals, resolutions, and plenty of things you want to work on.
But among everything that you might be working on in the new year, very few things are going to be more important than deepening your family relationships and enjoying life together.
Maybe things are pretty great right now – how can you keep that going?
Or maybe you’re struggling – what is your dream for how things will change next year?
And sometimes, you’re hitting the end of the year like a brick wall, and it’s hard to imagine things continuing. Family goals are still possible! After all, we follow a God who specializes in bringing dead things back to life. Let him lead you forward into the new year!
READ NEXT: The Ultimate Guide To How A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Can you really make a difference if you're working on family goals all alone?
As a Christian family counselor, one of the most common questions I get is this: How could I change anything in my family if I’m the only one working on it?
I have good news for you, my friend.
You can absolutely make positive changes in your family all by yourself!
I could get really nerdy right now and walk through tons of examples, details, and reasons for how I know this is true. But I’ll stick to 2 basic facts:
- I’ve seen it happen. Countless times in the counseling room, one person making a chance has an impact on the other family members.
- God is ultimately the one who can change hearts and change lives, and He is bigger than any problems you might be facing.
READ NEXT: The Incredible Power Of Becoming A Woman Of Prayer
Why bother setting family goals for 2024?
As you head into a new year, this is the perfect time to reflect back and think ahead. The perfect time for new resolutions, goals, and plans!
But you might be wondering… why bother?‘
Well, there are 3 key pieces to that answer.
- Goals give you clarity. Putting words to your hopes and desires makes them more actionable.
- Planning helps you prioritize. You can’t say yes to everything. So, what’s most important right now?
- Goals guide you. In your prayer life, your schedule, or building new habits, goals will point you in the best direction and keep you on track.
How to set family goals (even if you're the only one working on them)
Whether your entire family is working toward some shared goals or you are doing it yourself, it is really helpful to engage in this process.
Here are some key steps to setting great family goals (or really, any type of goal!) so that you can make progress in the new year.
1. Reflect on where you are at today.
Think through the past year. What went well? Where did your family struggle? Take time to get a realistic picture in your mind of where your family is at today. This will point you toward your priorities for moving forward.
Grab this free e-guide for worksheets to help you reflect and prioritize!
2. Read the Bible for godly characteristics of family relationships.
The first and best place to get clarity on what is important in your family life is… the Bible! Spend time reading through key Bible passages about relationships, marriage, parenting, and overall Christian living.
Some of my favorite passages to read for this are:
- Ephesians 5
- Colossians 3
- 1 Corinthians 13
- The book of Proverbs
- The gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
Grab the perfect devotional: Building A Home Of Godliness And Joy.
3. Reality check: Understand your current season of life.
Family goals will look very different as life moves forward. Goals for a family with a newborn are different than a family wrangling multiple toddlers. If you’re working full-time, your goals will be different from the stay at home mom. None are better than the other, but they are different. Set yourself up for success with a reality check.
Dive deeper with 5 Great Scriptures To Pray For Your Family.
4. Think big-picture, medium-picture, and small-picture.
Start by thinking long-term. If your current season includes a 2-year-old, what do you want that relationship to be like when he is 12? What about when he’s 22? Consider how today’s goals and plans will work toward that big picture. Then you can start breaking it into medium-picture goals (this year) and small-picture plans (monthly or daily goals).
Find out 6 Small Things You Can Do TODAY As A Christian Mom To Build Healthy Family Relationships.
5. Write it down
There is a lot of power in writing things down! Get the chaos and overwhelm out of your head and think it through on paper. I really love The Hope Planner for this, because it puts spiritual goals and daily habits first (Bible reading, prayer) and then moves you into planning out your monthly calendar, daily to-do list, and other important life notes.
You aren't alone
It is really discouraging to try to work on family goals for 2024 (or any other time) by yourself. Whether it’s simply that no one else has time or energy, or because they just aren’t interested, it hurts.
But trust me, friend. You are not alone.
Family life is hard work! Marriage can be difficult. Motherhood is often exhausting.
But your hope is not in your marriage. Or your kids. Or even your family life in general.
Your hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ. When you are weary, come to him. When you are tired, lean on him. Seek his wisdom, guidance, direction, and hope.
Listen to Episode #162
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