I hope everyone had a great Christmas holiday and are anxiously awaiting the New Year. I will be finalizing my goals for next year and intend to have them completed by January 15th and then, God willing, I will spend the ensuing year trying to achieve them. My Bible study partner asked if he could see my goals’ rough draft so he might get some ideas. I told him no because I formulate them inside my head. (He probably would not want to visit there. LOL) I have spent untold hours sitting on deer stands in the quiet of mornings and evenings and use much of that time to pray and think about what I want to achieve next year. I told my friend he would need to wait until January 15th when I have reduced them to writing to see them.
I saw a video of a motivational speaker one time who called someone onstage. After pointing out a rather large archery target, he blindfolded them and then turned them around two or three times and then handed him a bow and arrow, and told him to shoot the bullseye on the target. He was standing facing the audience which he could not see and had he actually been allowed to shoot he would have shot right into it. Of course, he did not, but it made a firm impression on everyone viewing it including me. One cannot hit a target unless it can be clearly seen, and goals are nothing more than identifying the targets.
Back in the day in a business sense, I found nothing was as important in achieving success as setting achievable goals and then formulating a plan to accomplish them. I used to set short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals. I no longer have a need to establish career goals or for that matter what I consider to be long-term goals which I classify as ten to fifteen years out. I’m retired and at my age don’t much think I will make it on this planet another ten to fifteen years, so that leaves me with personal goals and most importantly spiritual goals short and medium term.
Personal goals of mine are primarily about health and family, and thus spiritual goals are what I have spent the most time preparing. I usually list Bible verses as headings to assist with goal-making. I have scoured the Bible through the years listening to those successful biblical heroes and how they achieved so much for the Lord. The Apostle Paul is one of those. Of the 27 books in the New Testament, 13 or 14 are traditionally attributed to Paul. He suffered as no other disciple, was stoned, caned, shipwrecked, bitten by a poisonous snake, scourged, and he even gave his life when beheaded at the command of Nero. His comment to Timothy as the end was drawing nigh and he was in a dank, cold, and dark dungeon was as follows: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.
That verse seems to me to be an ideal heading for my spiritual goals. Now all I need to do is choose my battles, keep the faith, and fight the good fight to achieve them and keep fighting until I finish the race. Much goal-setting wisdom is packed within that little verse. It will take effort to set worthwhile goals and hard work to achieve them, but I would wager to say that most who fail, do so because they do not persevere. It is far easier just to quit. As an example, I have written Words for the Day some 24 years five days a week. There have been many times that I have felt like quitting. Satan whispers in my ear that I have done my part, just relax and enjoy retirement. Or he inspires some critic to write the vilest of letters, or I am sick with the flu, or on vacation. My faith comforts me, and I realize from some of the letters that I receive that there are readers who are encouraged by this effort, and it is for them that I slog on in spite of Satan’s discouragement and barriers.
Rest assured if you try to do something significant to further the work of God, Satan will work against you night and day, but if you understand that your trials are minimal to others like Paul who suffered so much and yet persevered, or more significantly, Jesus, who endured the pain of the cross and its humiliation, and went on to defeat death and release His grace to a sin-filled world so it could enjoy redemption, then you will realize that nothing is too difficult.
I hope and pray that you will set some worthwhile goals and stick with them throughout the year. My Bible study partner likes that verse, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful, so much so that he is thinking about having it inscribed on his tombstone when the Lord calls him to greater glory; however he did express to me that he likes the epitaph that I want, The adventure continues. I like them both too but I’m thinking of going the cremation route so likely won’t even have a tombstone. Whatever!
Set some goals and achieve some stuff next year and remember prayer is the first step, it is after all God that we want to please . . .
Proverbs 3:5
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Acknowledge the Lord in your goal-setting, and He will give you the wisdom to make goals that reflect His desires for you. He can make your paths straight only if you are on His path.