1 For everything there is a season,
    a time for every activity under heaven.
4 A time to cry and a time to laugh.
    A time to grieve and a time to dance.
5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
    A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
(Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4–5, NLT)

This past year has been a wild ride. More transitions, another move, and four major losses that brought four significant chapters of my life to a close. Honestly, it’s been unexpectedly difficult and I’m looking forward to putting 2025 behind me.

9  The hands of Zerubbabel
   Have laid the foundation of this temple;
   His hands shall also finish it.
   Then you will know
   That the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you.
10 For who has despised the day of small things?
   For these seven rejoice to see
   The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.
   They are the eyes of the Lord,
   Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.”
(Zechariah 4:9–10; NKJV)

It’s that time again. Another new year. Another season of anticipation for what God has in store for us individually, our communities, and our world. Last year was the first year I published my New Year’s goals. In this post I will continue that habit for 2025.

Then the Lord answered me and said:
“Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.
Behold the proud,
His soul is not upright in him;
But the just shall live by his faith.
(Habakkuk 2:2–4; NKJV)

I like goals. Goals give me vision for how to prioritize my time. When I don’t have goals, I have too much time and too little to do, and I find myself in all kinds of trouble. Of course, those who know me well know how easy it is for me to fall into the opposite trap of having too much to do, too little time, and stressing needlessly. Between these extremes, I think there’s room to pray for God to give us vision, including goals that guide us accordingly.