“To you I lift up my eyes” (Ps. 123:1).
We have probably heard the expression: “Dangling a carrot in front of someone’s nose.”
This concept goes back to earlier times when farmers used to dangle carrots and other enticements in front of mules, goats and cattle to get them to move. The carrot was in front, and the animals would move toward it without ever being able to eat it.
Each new year presents an array of enticements for us, too. We probably have goals we want to pursue, places we want to visit, situations we desire to change. Yet we sometimes we get bogged down in less-important matters that keep us from pursuing our goals, or we simply become ineffective because we lose sight of the goal.
Writing down a goal—particularly our goals for ministry—is a vital part of moving forward. When we write down a goal, we always should keep the carrot principle in mind. The goal must be:
• Big enough to challenge us
• Complex enough to engage us
• Measurable
• Achievable
What are your youth ministry goals for 2014? How are you going to keep these goals in front of you in the coming months?
