Setting God Centered Goals

"A man’s heart plans his ways, but the Lord directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9, NKJV).

A goal simply defined is a target or desired end. Christ centered goals are goals mainly sourced from the word of God. These are goals we set that are in alignment with God’s will, His power and the prosperity of His kingdom. They are goals that bring honor and glory to God.

God allows His children to make some decisions regarding their lives even though He can sovereignly overrule. The Living Bible in Proverbs 19:21 says man proposes but God disposes. We are to have goals that we subject to God’s will. It is okay to make plans counting on God to direct our steps (Proverbs 16:9, TLB). Below are some salient points about goal setting:

 Goals Are Important In Life: Goals are the roadmap to progress. A wise man said nothing is dynamic until it first becomes specific. Until you can define your desired end, forces of progress may elude you. It’s amazing how before you set date for an event everything is in a stalemate but immediately the date is set things begin to move fast and fall into place. Setting goals motivates and set things in motion.

 Goals Should Be Written Out:  “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets that he may run that reads it” (Habakkuk 2:2). The fact is that whatever we focus on in life magnifies. Whatever you set before your eyes is magnified in your mind. God asked Abraham to focus on the stars of the firmament and not on his childlessness. God was trying to advertise his future to him and needed Abraham to ingest and internalize what He was planning to do in his future.

 Goals Should Be Verified:  As you draw up your goals, you must also state the reason why you want them accomplished. For example if your goal is to be married in 2015, the reason for the marriage shouldn’t be that you are getting old and  therefore willing to settle for anybody available. The reason should be God glorying and should come from a desire to be in partnership with a godly spouse and to fulfill God’s will for marriage. Always ensure your motives are in line with Heaven.

Goals Don’t Fulfill Themselves: One dictionary definition of goals is the end towards which effort is directed. Some Christians erroneously feel that their goals all depend on God for actualization. We are co-laborers with God in bringing our goals or dreams to fruition. The question is what can you do to bring those goals to fruition? Do you need to go back to school? Do you need to learn a new skill? Do you need to seek out a mentor? What do you need to do to bring the goals to reality? The questions you ask determine the answers you get. Our effort is very much necessary and expedient in order to realize our goals. Note that your goal(s) carry a price tag which only you can pay.

Your Goals Should Have An Eternal Perspective:  Setting God centered goals are only possible if we keep the divine eternal perspective.  We should realize that just as we have expectations from God, He also has expectations of us. Everything I’m trying to achieve in 2015 should have a divine purpose attached to it. As a Child of God you don’t own yourself.  You have been bought with a price, so you are expected to glorify God in all you do (1 Corinthians 6:20). As you do God’s will (e.g. winning souls for the kingdom), God will perfect all that concerns you.

CONCLUSION: Goals help us to be focus. Many people don’t accomplish much because they are scattered and doing many things at the same time. Goals also help us to live our lives not by chance or happenstance, but by design.  Your goals are only as big as your God; your goals tell your perception of God. If you truly believe God is capable of doing all things, your goals will be lofty, transcendental and glorifying to God.

Ade(Gboyega) ESAN

www.rccgpittsburgh.org 

Power For A New Beginning (January 2015)

“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13, KJV).

In a new year, many people make resolutions to change and make adjustments in certain areas of their lives, but usually and against their wish these resolutions are short lived and not kept. The ability to tap into the power of God and the power of the gospel of Jesus make desired changes real and possible. Below are some factors that can make changes permanent:

The Power of Conversion: The text above states that for everyone who receives Christ as Lord and Savior, God gives them power to become the sons of God (John 1:12). Being born again is a spiritual rebirth that comes from an encounter with the Holy Spirit. It is God implanting His seed into a natural man and causing a transformation in him/her that is supernatural (1 Peter 1:23). It is God turning on the light of His Word (in the dark soul of a man) that brings knowledge and enlightenment of Him.

The Power of Commitment: This is the power of a made up mind. The new Christians at Antioch were encouraged by Barnabas that “with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord” (Acts 11:23). There is a determination that is fuelled by the Holy Ghost as opposed to determination that is of the human will (Philippians 2:13). This determination by the Holy Ghost will always engender the just man to dust himself up and continue the journey even after a fall (Proverbs 24:16).

The Power of Biblical Meditation: God gave us the formula for all round success and prosperity in Joshua 1:8 as meditating in His Word day and night. Meditation is more than reading. It is mulling over a text/scripture in somebody’s mind until one draws strength and energy from the said scripture. The word of God contains spiritual resources that produce life (John 6:63).

The Power of Discipline: I once told my teenage son I was teaching to drive that he must always be in control of the car, that anytime the car seems to be going too fast for his control he must slow down and gain control again. God wants us to always be in control of our thoughts because we live life from the inside out. Apostle Paul was able to master control over his flesh partly because he had good control of his inward man (soul) (1 Corinthians 9:26-27).

The Power of Surrender: Jesus Christ as man had control over His will. Though God’s plan was that He should die for mankind, Jesus had the freedom to refuse the death on the cross (John 10:17-18). He freely surrendered to the will of Father God. True surrender terminates struggles. Simply saying not my will but your will be done has tremendous power. Realizing God’s love for us creates the willingness in us to surrender to Him.

Conclusion

Any proposed change in the New Year that is not God-centered and God-enabled will not last. Applying the aforementioned points which are sourced in God will guarantee an amazing year. Have a victorious and glory filled 2015 in Jesus name. Happy New Year.