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Goal Setting ***’s Way

12.04.2008 · Posted in Home and Garden Articles

Every New Year I encounter the same interior battle between the good business practice of setting goals and my Christian understanding of ***’s outworking of our purpose and plan. When does goal setting or making New Year’s resolutions cross the Christian line into self-determination?nnOn the goal-setting side, I’ve taken business courses on time management and goal setting. I believe you can’t get where you want to go without a clearly defined plan. nnOn the ***’s will side of this equation, I know *** is in control and if He planned for me to be the next Beth Moore, that is what I’d become. But, if that was not His plan, I could work my fingers to the bone and never achieve success (or if I did, it would be hollow when I got there). nnSo how do we marry these two concepts? While searching the Scriptures, I discovered the answer tucked within Paul’s letter to the Romans. Paul writes,nn”I pray that now at last by ***’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you. I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong- that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.” (Romans 1:9-13 NIV)nnWe can glean several things from Paul’s goal-setting process. First, Paul knew *** well enough to make a decision that would be in line with ***’s character. This sounds so easy, but if it were then we’d all where WWJD bracelets and be done with the whole thing. So, the first goal I am setting for myself this year is to grow in my knowledge and understanding of who *** is. This means setting aside the time necessary to build a relationship. It might also mean taking some things off my schedule. nnSecond, Paul did not shy away from opposition or a challenge. When his plans to visit his brothers and sisters in Rome were derailed, he looked for the opportunity in the delay. How our lives would change if we saw every setback and every delay as an opportunity?nnAnd finally, Paul repeatedly refers to his willingness to submit his plans to ***’s sovereignty. It is interesting to note that Paul submits his plans to ***; he isn’t seeking to know ***’s plans for him. I meet so many people who are waiting for *** to direct their steps instead of making choices with ***-given wisdom and then saying, “here are my desires Lord, this is what I believe I am to do, but your will be done.” In our Scripture passage, we see Paul fully embracing his gift of free will while resting in the knowledge that, in the end, *** is still in control. nnWhat does this mean for you and I? It tells me we are free to set goals and make plans to achieve those goals. But it also reminds me that *** is bigger and wiser than you and I, and He will, in His sovereignty, guide us as He walks with us each and every day in this New Year.nnCheri Cowell is a speaker and the author of Direction: Discernment for the Decisions of Your Life, which offers a biblically-sound, non-nonsense approach to making ***-centered life choices.

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