“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” Romans 12:1 NLT
Have you ever heard the quote, “If you aim at nothing, you are sure to hit it”? What are you aiming for?
One thing I have learned over the years is that, although I may not reach every goal I set, setting goals helps me keep making progress. Setting goals has helped me do things I never thought possible. Aiming at something helped me hit something, even if it wasn’t all that I had planned.
You may not think setting goals is important. But if you don’t have any clear goal, how do you know which direction to head in? And if you are a Christ-follower, are you aiming toward God’s goals for you?
Friend, setting goals gives you a direction, something to aim for. God-centered goals start and end with God’s purposes. What’s the benefit of setting God-centered goals?
God-centered goals lead toward God’s purpose for your life. Human beings long for purpose. Regardless of their faith practices, people want to know that their lives matter. You want to believe that your existence is making a difference.
As Christ-followers, that desire goes deeper. Not only do we want to know that our lives matter, but we also want to believe that we are making an eternal difference. We want our lives to count for God.
The best way to be sure that our lives are in line with God’s purpose is to include Him in the process. We ask Him, then set the goals we believe He has revealed. Then we move in that direction. That leads us toward the purpose He designed us for.
God-centered goals align with God’s purpose for the world. God’s purpose for the world is simple: Redemption. He wants to redeem lost humanity. He wants to redeem the created world to His original design. As each individual is restored to relationship with Him, the world moves closer to complete redemption and restoration.
When you set God-centered goals, your goals will align with God’s purpose for the world, redemption. Regardless of how you walk it out, your purpose is His purpose.
God-centered goals declare your life is His. Including God in the goal-setting process starts with YES. But not yes to the specifics. It’s about saying yes to Him first. It’s about saying that your life belongs to Him and you will do whatever is important to Him. It’s a declaration that you are not your own. You were bought with a price. (1 Cor. 6:19)
Dear Friend, your life matters. Because your life matters, setting goals matters. Setting goals is an act of faith. It’s a way to say you believe your life has purpose. Goals give you something to aim at.
You make a difference. When you include God in the process, you will set goals that align with His purpose for your life, His purpose for the world, and you will demonstrate that your life is not your own. It’s risky, but so satisfying. Don’t aim at nothing. Aim at something and you will accomplish more than you ever thought possible.
Key Question: Why does setting God-centered goals matter?
A Scripture to Consider: “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” Romans 12:1 NLT
A YES Challenge: Review the goals you have set for yourself. How can you adjust them to keep God at the center?
Prayer: Father, my life is Yours. I want every goal I achieve to point to You. I want to fulfill Your purpose for my life and align with Your purpose for the world. Let every goal I set remind me that I am not my own. I am bought with a price. I offer myself to You as a living sacrifice. Amen.