“Where there is no vision, the people perish.”
Proverbs 29:18

This time last year I made a decision. I was going to purchase my first home in 2019. And guess what? It happened.

Obviously, it wasn’t that simple. But it started with a declaration of faith. I created a not-so-glamorous vision board. There were no fun pictures or pretty letters. Instead, I bought a $2 poster board and wrote down what I wanted. I prayed for those things and every morning I went to my vision board and read it out loud. Next, I made steps towards achieving those goals because the goal itself is not enough.

 

1. Write your vision.

Faith is the substance of things we hope for, and the evidence of things we can’t see (Hebrews 11:1). It’s important to be clear about what you want and writing your goals is the first step. Make sure you write your goals in the present tense, as though they have already been accomplished.

2. Look at your vision every day.

Steve Harvey shares the story of how he told his elementary school teacher he wanted to be on television. Steve actually got in trouble for making such a bold declaration. His dad, however, told him to write his vision down and look at it every day. When you write down your desires and look at them daily, they are in the forefront of your mind. You are constantly aware of what you are working towards.

3. Make a plan to achieve your vision.

Again, writing your goals and looking at them is not enough. You must develop a plan to achieve what you desire. If you don’t, another year will roll by and you’ll be in the same position, wishing you had started sooner. The time will pass regardless. Spend that time working on what God has placed inside you.

 

SMART Goals

When I made my vision board last year, I used the acronym SMART to make sure my goals were clear and achievable. A SMART goal is:

Specific: What is your goal?

Measurable: How will you know you are progressing towards achieving your goal?

Achievable: Is this goal realistic?

Relevant: Why is achieving this goal important to you?

Timely: How long will you give yourself to achieve this goal?

 

Regular Goals vs. SMART Goals

Regular Goal: I want to buy a house next year.

SMART Goal: I will save [x amount of dollars] towards a down payment and I will purchase a home in [this particular neighborhood] for [this amount of money] by December 2020.

 

What is a SMART goal you have for 2020? And how will you accomplish it?

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