Are Goals Necessary?

Are goals necessary? It depends on who you ask.  A goal to a soccer player would be very necessary.  A goal to a business owner that will help them reach their billable target is also important.  But what about personal goals? Why is it that so many of us (myself included) balk at the thought of having to set them?

For a chunk of time I avoided setting definite personal goals. In fact I made a decision that I would not because, to be totally honest, I hated the thought of failing.  In the past I had a habit of making grandiose unachievable short-term goals. For example - “This year I am going to become fluent at German again”, “This year I am going to update my sign language certificate so I can translate our praise and worship time at Church without having to rote learn each song”, “These next four months I am going to work so hard that I will get to my goal weight”.  Suffice to say, not one goal was achieved.

How disheartening it is to set goals and fail.  What a ridiculously high standard I had set for myself, no wonder I fell into the habit of being content with pottering along in life. Thankfully God brought to my attention the following verse:-

“Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.  Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.” Proverbs 4:25-26 (NIV)

Instead of seeking God’s direction for each step ensuring that I was taking “only ways that are firm”, I had been focused on where I thought my path should be going. With no goals set, my life did not have momentum and it felt at times like I was at a standstill. I was “living” but not living life to its fullest as I had no direction to head. In fact there is a verse that talks about a life that does not have any direction or instruction to enable it to move forward:-

“Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.” Proverbs 29:18 (NIV)

I honestly believe that it is important to set goals.  I have come to learn that in order to move forward I need to constantly work at growing in my Christian walk. In order to grow I need to set myself daily/monthly/yearly goals which will stretch me and cement my reliance on God. Applying this truth can be quite challenging. Imagine my relief when I read the next verse:-

“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

In fact Charles R. Swindoll (Author) shares a “living insight” in the Living Insights Study Bible (NIV) in relation to this verse which sums up the truth found therein:-

“God has called us to be in a spiritual growth pattern.  Sometimes were up… sometimes down.  Sometimes we’re more victorious than other times.  But the progress is a movement forward and higher.”

I now understand that there is no “quick fix”, my life is a constant process of growth and one that can only be lived to the full when my eyes are fixed firmly on Christ.  How comforting it is to know that if I set my goals with my eyes fixed firmly on Christ then not only will my life have momentum, not only will my life have meaning but I will eventually, reach the ultimate goal and claim my reward which is  living out my eternity with Him.

So this is my challenge to myself this week, I am going to seek God’s wisdom and set one spiritual goal and see where it takes me.  I pray that you take time to pause, reflect and maybe join with me in doing the same.
                                                                                                                                                                                               

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Quotes:     The living Insights Study Bible New International Version – Charles R. Swindoll, General Editor(Zondervan Publishing House Grand Rapids, MI)