“There are two ways to go through life,” suggests Rick Warren. “By design or default. You’re either planning your life or your life just drifts.”
Do you have goals? Goals are important. Jesus had goals. He said, “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.” (John 6:38) The Apostle Paul was clear on his goals also. “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Phil. 3:10-11) On the Damascus Road Paul had an encounter with Jesus and was given a call. That call became his life’s goal. Standing before King Agrippa sometime later in life he was able to testify, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.” (Acts 26:19)
Goal setting doesn’t have to be complicated. I’ve been with large organizations that seemed to put more value on the process than they ever did on the product. Bulky plans and goals often got buried in desk drawers and little reference was ever given to them.
Goals, when effectively used, help to…
1. Give direction. They are steppingstones toward the things we value. They take our loose, hazy, ill-defined ambitions and bring clarity to them. They are part of our personal mapping process. Goals are statements of faith.
2. Provide motivation and something to aim for. They become our fundamental reason for being and give purpose to our activity.
3. Help us with decision-making. Goals become somewhat of a north star to keep us on track. They help sort out the wheat and the chaff and identify where we should spend our time and resources.
4. Focus our energy. Goals prod us onward when the going gets tough.
5. Goals make our lives meaningful. It is said, “If you aim at nothing you are sure to get there.” Goals help us live more purposefully which leads to a greater level of inner satisfaction and peace.
What is God asking of you – personal wise? Write it down. These are your personal goals. What is God asking of you spiritually? Put it in writing. These become your ministry or spiritual goals. Now… what steps are needed to do it? That’s your plan. Identify the first two or three steps needed to get going. Then count the cost and go for it! The hardest part to any task is to get started.
Ted Engstrom was a leadership genius. In his book “Motivation to Last a Lifetime” he cautioned, “We must be sure to set goals within our reach. Attempting the impossible will destroy our motivation overnight. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Neither is a career …nor a life that’s worth living.”
Be blessed my friend
Glen (Pitts)
The Barnabas Group / Loads of Love
Proverbs 16:1; Acts 26
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