Make Some Goals

What are you going to do this year?  I’m on a mission to get people on a mission.  Too many people are living their lives by letting their circumstances determine their lives.  They don’t do what they want.  Instead, they simply roll with the punches, go with the flow, yield to the tyranny of the urgent, and end up nowhere near where they want to be.  More importantly, they end up nowhere near where God wants them to be.  Sadness, learned helplessness, and a sense of loss of control are all the terrible side effects.  That isn’t how anyone should live—especially a Christ-follower.  It’s a waste.

If you don’t want to waste your time or your life (which are pretty much the same thing), then you must make some choices, plan some actions, and take those actions.  I talked about this some in my first message of the year (Good Stops for Good Starts ), but I want to spell it out succinctly here.  

Brian Tracy gets paid a lot of money to inspire, motivate and coach people to live the life they want.  We can learn from him to live the life God wants for us, which turns out to be the best life we could ever live.  Brian says in the intro to his book called Goals! (page ix) that if he could convey only one thought that would help us become more successful, he would say this: 

“Write down your goals, make plans to achieve them, and work on your plans every single day.” 

That is a brilliant strategy for life. 

The apostle Paul said it this way:  “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”  (Philippians 4:13).  You should read the whole chapter.  He knew exactly what God wanted, he made plans to achieve it, and he work those plans every single day.

So, how about you?  Do you have your goals for the year?  If not, here are some questions and thoughts to get you going:

1. Is your primary mission clear?  It should be to glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31).  Make every word, every thought, every decision this year so that God, not you, is glorified. 
2. What are your goals in these five important areas:  Faith, Family, Friends, Finances, Future (which means God’s specific dream for your life, your life mission)?  
3. What do you need to eliminate from your life so that you can wholeheartedly pursue these goals?
4. Who do you need on your team?

Ask and answer those four questions, and you'll be ready for a great year.  But don’t stop there.  Ask God what your goals should be.  Write them down.  Make a plan.  Work the plan every day.  If God has given you the goal, you should decide now to work towards it until it is reached, without exception.  Great passion plus clear direction leads to focused action, which produces a great life.

Comments

[Dean W. Parker]

I have used the blogging site quite often this past year and I would hate to see it removed from the church website for lack of use.

We did very well in the early part of 2008, but in recent months, hardly any comments have been created.

So, part of my goal for 2009 is to encourage others to use the blog.

Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another".

I admit I need sharpening and don't want to be the only one making clinking noises here.

So, who's next?

[Jordan Peterson]

I want to encourage people as well to contribute comments to the blog. I don't attend this church (though after viewing your website, I'm thinking I'll come check it out). My story: I am actually a member of another Rockford church, but have lately felt prompted to check out other churches. And in doing so, I did find another church, which basically means my Saturday evenings are at my original Church 1, and my Sunday mornings are at Church 2. Church 2 has a blog on their website, and I think it's great (although, for whatever reason, you cannot comment, which doesn't seem right)! I was glad to see your church had a blog. I was always disappointed that Church 1 never had a blog, even though they certainly have the capacity to create one! And it is a great way to connect further outside the church building, by reading people's thoughts/ideas and then contributing your own. Don't just get something out of it by reading it and moving on...give something back. You are lucky to have this tool, because not all churches do. So I encourage you as well to make the most of it.