Achieving Your Goals

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SoldierforChrist

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I was studying my Bible the other night, and I ran across some verses and thoughts that I would like to share with you.The verse that sort of triggered the whole study was the following:Proverbs 18:1 "Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom."This verse got me thinking about what steps are needed to achieve wisdom, or for that matter any goal or accomplishment that we seek in life. In this verse we can see 3 distinct steps in achieving wisdom. In our study we will use "wisdom" interchangeably with any goal or achievement that you are striving for. The steps in the verse could be re-phrased as follows:Step 1: Identify your Desire or GoalStep 2: Separate yourself from negative influencesStep 3: Seek or work towards the goalLets talk about each step in more detail now, and also look at some verses that pertain to the individual steps.Step 1: Identify your Desire or GoalGoals are one of the most vital aspects of life. Having a goal helps you to make each decision with a purpose and not simply guessing as to which direction you will go. Not setting goals in life is like leaving your house with no destination in mind. It is like just getting in your car and driving, but having no clue where you are driving to. Each time you get to a crossroad or intersection you just randomly pick a direction and keep driving that way. Imagine how much time you would waste and how many times you would go out of the way or in a circle just to get back to where you started. You would waste so much time and energy, and in the end you would have nothing to show for it. Having no goals in life is the same way. Every time you get in a position where you need to pick a direction, you have no idea which way to go, and simply close your eyes and point(in a matter of speaking).Now, what if you left your house with a specific destination in mind. Every time you came to a crossroad you would not even have to stop and think which way you should go. You would simply go in the direction that would get you to your destination. Having goals in life are the same way. When you know where you are going, then each decision in life will have a purpose behind it, and each step will be taking you closer to your goal or destination.With that in mind, we should all make goals in many areas of life. You should have spiritual and physical goals with the first being the more important of the two. What those goals are is left up entirely to you as the individual, and some may seek for a very long time before they find out what their personal goals are. We need to keep in mind however that until we have a goal or vision, we will continue to wander around aimlessly, and waste a very large amount of time. We are only given a small amount of time here on this earth, so lets use it in the most productive way that we can.Proverbs 29:18a "Where there is no vision, the people perish"Step 2: Separate yourself from negative influencesThere are two types of influences on your life. Positive and Negative. The more I have thought about it, the more I have come to the conclusion that there is really no neutral ground. If a person or thing is not having a positive effect on you, then you really should not be centered around it. Any waste of time is a negative impact on your life, so you should not waste your time with stuff that is not helping to better you as a person, or help you get closer to achieving your goals. Negative influences are all around us, and they come in all shapes and sizes. There is not a lack of negative influences, however identifying what they are is not always easy. Having friends that are negative influences is probably the most dangerous type of influence. Accepting the fact that a friend is a negative influence, and separating yourself from them may be one of the harder things that you have to do in life. It is definitely not easy to do, but if you really want to succeed in life, spiritually and physically, then you have to shed those chains that are holding you back.2 Corinthians 6:17 "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you."Ezra 10:11 "Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives."Hebrews 7:26 "For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;"Step 3: Seek or work towards the goalNow that you have set your goal and removed the negative influences that are keeping you from achieving that goal, it is time for the longest and hardest part. Achieving the goal. Depending on how big your goal is, it may take only a few days, or up to a lifetime to achieve. No matter how small or large your goal is, you must take the same steps to achieve it. Every decision you make should take you one step closer to that goal. When you come to a crossroad or decision in life, simply look and see which road takes you to your goal, and walk that way. When you know where you are going, getting there is not so hard. It is just a matter of taking the right turns, and keeping that destination in the forefront of your mind. It makes every decision and choice have meaning and purpose, and helps to remove a lot of the uncertainty that comes with a lack of vision.Dedication and perseverance are key components to success. The road may be long and hard, but taking one step after the next will eventually get you there. Don't give up. No matter what happens, as long as you keep moving you will get there. As the hymn says, "...not to the strong is the battle, not to the swift is the race, yet to the true and the faithful victory is promised through grace..." Keep striving towards the goal you have set for yourself, and do not stop until you get there. Achieving goals is one of the most rewarding things in life, and the longer and harder the goal, the more joy you get from finally reaching it.1 Corinthians 9:24 "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain."1 Chronicles 28:20 "And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD."Hebrews 12:1-3 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."Achieving your Goals:Setting goals, shedding negative influences, and working hard to achieve those goals are the key factors to success. We all want to be successful in life, and we all can be as long as we work every day towards completing what we have started. Keep God first in your heart. Work hard, and stay focused. You will achieve your goals, and you will be a success in life.2 Timothy 4:7 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:"
 

Albert Finch

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Luke 4:28,29 -- "For which of you, wishing to build a farm building, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see whether he as sufficient means to finish it?"Planning is faith. God has a plan for us but he doesn't plan for us.Planning pulls the promises out of eternity and puts them into time.Planning documents vision. Without a vision there is no self-control. Without a plan there is no goal control.Luke 14:27 -- "Whoever does not persevere and carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple."God does not change his purposes. God does change His plans.Planning with works is failure.Plans are changeable but never your purpose.Not fulfilling your plan does not mean you are out of God's will.If you keep your purpose clear your plans might change.A planner is a visionary.Psalm 20:4 -- "May He grant you according to your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans."A plan is a documented desire.Proverbs 12:5 -- "The thoughts and purposes of the righteous are honest and reliable, but the counsels and designs of the wicked are treacherous."Proverbs 16:1-3 -- "The plans of the mind and orderly thinking belong to man, but from the Lord comes the wise answer of the tongue. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eye, but the Lord weights the spirits (thoughts and intents of the heart). Roll your works upon the Lord (commit and trust them wholly to Him: He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and so shall your plans be established and succeed."There are promises of God's protection and care for those who are seeking, visualizing, planning and fulfilling the call (destiny) of God on their life.1 Thessalonians 5:24 -- "Faithful is He Who is calling you (to Himself) and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it (fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you)." Questions to Ask MyselfWhat am I actively doing to seek God's purpose (destiny) for my life?How much time am I spending per day in the presence of God with an attitude of expectation.Albert Finchhttp://www.thekeys2kingdom.com