Are you the kind of person that sets goals for yourself? If so, what
kind? How are you doing in meeting those goals you have set up? Do you
even think goals are important, or are you of the opinion that they really
aren't necessary? For some people, everything they do is geared toward
reaching their goal, and it becomes their life passion. For others however,
they seem to think that anything good that comes about is stumbled over
and never really happens on purpose. Let's look at this interesting topic
today through the eyes of the apostle Paul in Phillipians 3:8-10. Just
what was his goal…
Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of
the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss
of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And
be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law,
but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which
is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection,
and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his
death.
Paul wanted to KNOW Jesus Christ, to experience sweet fellowship with
Him and increased faith; he wanted to please His Savior, he wanted to
be found in the righteousness of Christ rather than his own... Not only
did Paul desire the PERSON of Christ and want to be made conformable to
HIS image, he also wanted to know the POWER of Christ through his personal
sufferings. These are definitely some serious goals, amen? Even as we
go down to verse 14 of the same chapter, we find the total summary of
his main focus in life:
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ
Jesus.
Yes, this is what the Apostle Paul diligently sought after, and he considered
it a prize.... What prize do you and I seek today? What are our goals?
Are they similar to the apostle Paul's - are they as spiritually sober,
or are they just shallow, flimsy, earthly, even fleshly goals? The reason
I ask is because goals make a difference in the way we live! Think about
it... How are your goals determining your moment-by-moment choices, the
way you spend your time? This is more than a matter of just being busy...
The question is: What are you busy about?? What good is activity without
insight?? Are you setting out to KNOW Christ as seriously as the apostle
Paul did? Or are all your energies channeled in other directions? The
apostle Paul made great strides in his Christian life simply because he
set proper goals and then set out to reach them. Nothing took his eyes
off meeting that goal! Would there be anything taking your eyes off Christ
today??
Matthew 22:36-38 (KJV)
Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him,
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy
soul, and with all thy mind.
Ladies, who sets your goals for you? Are you letting the world set your
goals - or the Lord? Knowing what other people strive for puts pressure
on us, amen? Why do you do what you do?? For example, are you using all
your energy to make money because you rub elbows with those that are wealthy?
Perhaps you are using all your energy to stay in shape physically because
your friends are so fit? Maybe your flesh is craving the same percentage
of attention someone you respect is receiving so you are aiming for greater
recognition. In any case, then the world is setting your goals for you....
The verse I shared with you above shows what God's goal is for everyone
- that we would set out to love Him with ALL our being. He desires that
this become of utmost importance to one and all, of supreme priority in
our lives above all our other goals! Is that the case in your life today?
Do you desire to know God as much as He desires you to?? Do you value
your relationship with your heavenly Father? Or do you have a lesser goal
that you are striving so diligently to gain? Will you accept God's heavenly
goal for your life, or forsake it for the earthly?
Romans 8:28 (KJV)
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to his purpose.
We need to follow God's goals for our lives, for in them we have protection.
When we keep clear sight of where God wants us to go, earthly pursuits
will not have nearly so much of a grip on us. We will be able to detect
more readily when we are headed toward drifting off course… Jesus knew
where He had come from, why He was here, and what He was supposed to accomplish.
He came down from heaven, not to do His own will, but the will of the
Father. That determination controlled every decision He made. You see
ladies, God's goals bring a godly purpose to our lives that we would otherwise
not choose for ourselves. When we don't have anything worth doing set
before us, we lay around without any incentive for getting up in the morning.
Just think back to how you used to spend your Saturday mornings after
being in school all week. Were you lying around watching cartoons like
I was?? Every day, after I wake my children up in the morning, I tell
them what we are going to be doing that day, what the plan is. They can
no longer lay in bed in good conscience when I have set the day's goals
before them, when I have given them a purpose for getting out of bed.
It is a great motivator for getting them up! :-) So too, when you and
I remember that the Lord's goal for each of us is that we love Him with
all our being, then it is we'll get up and get in the Word and spend quality
time getting to know our Savior! Such purpose generates energy within
us because goals put us to work; they encourage us to make progress. More
men fail through lack of purpose than through lack of talent.
Ladies, we have no excuse for lying around or getting off track spiritually,
for God has never removed His goals, He has never altered His plan for
His children, He has never removed that high calling He has for us from
our lives! It is we who have taken our eyes off the mark....
James 4:15 (KJV)
For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this,
or that.
What kind of race are you running for Christ today, dear lady? Are you
meeting those spiritual goals? The choices you make all day, every day,
will determine your answer to that question. Goals met are simply a series
of right choices. One choice leads to another, which leads to another,
which leads to another and eventually the goal is met. Some choices may
seem less significant than others, but that is not true! Satan will try
to get you to think this way, because he wants to distract you from God's
goals for your life. But you must realize you are making serious choices
all the time! The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step...
EVERY choice is important, for each one leads you either closer or further
away from the goal set before you. Choices help determine your destiny!
They can work for good, or they can work for bad. Keep God's goals in
mind by keeping His Word in mind every step of the way, no matter what
you do....
1 Corinthians 10:31 (KJV)
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the
glory of God.
I hope you are ready today to let God be the chief influence in setting
all your goals! Successful Christians are ready to singleheartedly follow
after the Lord as the apostle Paul stated himself:
Phillippians 4:12 (KJV)
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: BUT
I FOLLOW AFTER, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended
of Christ Jesus.
Yes, the apostle Paul was ready to work - and to suffer if necessary -
in order to apprehend his goal. Because of this attitude, he achieved
the goals God placed before him. Are you willing to work toward God's
goals for your life today? Are you ready to suffer if necessary in order
to reach that high calling the Lord has for you personally? I hope you
won't be a quitter, for reaching any worthwhile goal requires perseverance.
Many Christians start out with good intentions, but never finish their
race.... Good intentions don't get you to the finish line - a desire to
KNOW and PLEASE the Lord does! As we read the scriptures, we find that
Christ was not distracted with trivia in this life. He was never in a
hurry, for He knew his Father would not give a task without the time to
do it. Nor was our Savior driven by crises, feeling that He must heal
everyone in Israel. He could say, "It is finished," even when many people
were still bound by demons and twisted by disease. In fact, what mattered
ultimately was not the number of people healed or fed, but whether the
Father’s will was being done! In essence, Christ's clearly defined goals
simplified His decisions. You and I can simplify our decisions too when
an attitude of obedience enters the daily picture! Purpose, plan, and
persevere to meet your goals – GOD’S goals for you, so that you may one
day join the apostle Paul in saying:
2 Tim. 4:7 (KJV)
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the
faith:
He made it! Will you?
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2004
Related Devotion - Setting Your Goals
