THE VALUE OF GOAL SETTING
READ PHILIPPIANS 3:10-14
I don’t believe in making New Year’s resolutions because they usually never materialize. Instead, I adhere to setting goals to achieve a future desired outcome to benefit my family and me. Holding yourself to daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals gives you a doable framework to accomplish your dreams. Planning is key to self-discipline and self-development. Executing that plan launches you forward as you take on your goals in measured amounts.
Although it is very practical, there is nothing unspiritual about goal setting. Faith always looks forward and belief rigorously trusts God for all things. The Bible says, “The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9) Your actions give God something to work with as He orchestrates the outcome for you.
The outlook of fatalism comes when a person has no goals, no hopes, and no expectations for the future. It is a life of resignation that nothing will ever get better. With that pessimism, the days will seem mundane and futile. You merely exist because life lacks purpose and meaning. In your head, you live life facing backwards, reminiscing about the past that you cannot undo. You might give up and stop caring about anything.
To stay out of the numbness of fatalism, ask God to reveal His purposes for you. His goals for you are life-giving and worthwhile. Philippians 1:6 reminds us that God began a good work when you were born. “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” You simply need to discover what that good work is.
Philippians 1:25 mentions the word “progress.” This means that God wants you to improve with the skills that He has given you to learn, grow, and excel. Your growth and progress glorify Him. Philippians 2:13 says, “For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” God works within you to accomplish the good works for which He created you. If you let Him, this partnership with Jesus can be exhilarating. These activities are reasonable, beneficial, and satisfying when we learn to plan and set goals for ourselves.
Be careful to stay out of fuzzy, unrealistic, fantasy-filled ideas that you invent in your imagination. Don’t decide what you think God should do for you. That is irreverent and backwards as you shout orders and expect Him to obey. Instead, humbly seek God for His goals for you. He will reveal specific, measurable, achievable, realistic opportunities to you. Most likely, they will involve helping other people, serving in your community, or spreading the Good News of Jesus to others.
Finally, Philippians 3:13-14 ascribes to a life facing forward motivated by future events. “…But one thing I do; forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Past experiences lay behind us from which we draw knowledge. Today is when we plan for tomorrow. Our vision for attainment and accomplishment keeps us moving forward towards our future. Let God give you dreams and goals that you will enjoy. As a result, your life will be full and satisfying knowing that you are working toward achievements that really matter.
