Pray First – Goal
"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." -Proverbs 16:9
Devotion
Setting goals in our lives is very common or at least it should be, whether it's a career or a relationship or our health. If you are like me and live on a small ranch, you set goals to achieve on your property. A destination to arrive at – that's what a goal is.
Many times we don't achieve our goals because, honestly, we just set the bar too high or the marker too far away. We're disappointed because our goals are not met.
In the "Heart of God" teaching, our church has learned that goals should be "SMART." This is an acronym that helps us create achievable goals.
Simple: Our goals don't have to be complex where we spend all of our time and effort trying to figure out how to arrive. Instead, simple goal uses our energy and time to just make it happen.
Measurable: Our goal should be measurable, that is we can see the progress that's made along the way, and that progress encourages us to press on as Paul did.
Realistic: Realistic goal setting starts with confidence and gains momentum as we press on. Keep it real! After all, no one knows our abilities better than we do ourselves.
Timely: No one will put forth much effort toward something that will not affect them in the immediate sense. Timely goals will see our effort come at a high level because of the usefulness that can be seen in how it will affect us immediately.
Paul's goal in Philippians 3:13 was...
Simple: The prize was the upward call of God, not multiple levels of achievement. Simply, the upward call of God was his prize.
Measurable: In this passage, Paul said that he hadn't laid hold of it yet but he was forgetting what lies behind and he was reaching forward to what lies ahead. So, his progress was measurable.
Attainable: The Apostle knew the call God had placed on his life was attainable. That's why he ended verse 14 with, "IN CHRIST JESUS." Through Christ is how Paul would attain the prize.
Realistic: Paul's goals were very realistic, because the call came from God and was attained through Jesus. In Philippians 1:6, Paul says, "For I am confident of this very thing that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus!" So, was the Apostle's goal realistic? You bet – very realistic!
Timely: Paul saw the upward call of God on his life as a prize to be had. I don't know anyone who doesn't enjoy a prize. So, yes, the goal for Paul to achieve the upward call of God in Christ Jesus was very timely as a prize to be had.
Prayer
Jesus, help me make simple, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely goals. Center every one around You and Your Kingdom. Give me the power and discipline to accomplish the goals You have placed before me. Thank You for giving me the ability to set goals and attain them. Give me wisdom for my day-to-day living. In Your name, amen!
Reflective Questions
What are your goals for 2024? Have you already skipped a day at the gym, eaten a sugary treat, or missed a morning reading from the Bible? If so, are you remembering God's grace or are you punishing yourself and giving up? Have you talked about your goals with your closest confidants? Will they keep you accountable? Have you talked to Jesus about your goals? What has He placed on your heart? What changes does He want you to make?
Practical Life Application
If you haven't written down your goals for 2024, take out a pen and paper. Pray through what God has placed on your heart. Use the "SMART" acronym to determine if each goal is simple, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. Schedule coffee or lunch with a friend or loved one to talk about 2024. Ask them to keep you accountable throughout the year. Set reminders on your phone to fulfill the goals you have in mind. Put sticky notes on the fridge if you have too. Finally, remember to accept the grace of Jesus when you falter. Spend time in prayer asking Jesus to give you the diligence and strength to keep going even when goals are unmet.