Goals!!!!, Goals ?!?!, Goals ????

A couple of years ago, I was asked to talk about “Goal Setting” for a January women’s brunch, but, I shied away from accepting the speaking engagement because I have never really embraced the idea of setting  resolutions for the new year.  If I set a resolution and accomplish said resolution or goal, I feel pretty cocky about my achievement and proud of my ability to exert self discipline; but if I set the resolution and fail to follow through, I feel defeated.  The practice has, in my personal life, either led to pride or defeat; so therefore, I have just refrained from participation in the yearly tradition.

But suppose I made sure that the motivation behind the goals that I set are of benefit to the kingdom not just my own personal growth and development.  Suppose I made resolutions for change that were in line with God’s plan for transformation into the image of Christ.  Philippians 3:13 & 14 says that we are to forget what is behind and press toward the goal, the goal is not an earthly goal, it is a heavenly goal.  If my goals and resolutions were set on heavenly purposes, I would not be so inclined to teeter totter between arrogance and shame.  When my goals take on a different perspective, when they are in line with God’s providence, I can be sure that as I pray and ask for divine help to attain my goals, God will come to my aid since the requests are focused on His kingdom not my own personal glorification; and His kingdom going forth is certainly in line with His plan.

I don’t think God is much interested in helping me reach a goal that is going to draw me away from humility or cause me to become self-sufficient, but He is more than happy to help me with my areas of fear and insecurity and to build in me an increased level of faith.  He is also more than willing to assist me as I endeavor to think of others more than myself and to help me learn to deny myself and live more kindly and compassionately.  I guess that if my value system is sound, goal setting can be a really good thing.  If the focus of my resolutions is eternal rather than earthly, I can certainly count on some divine intervention to help me attain them and then the glory will not be centered on me.

 

Another benefit I see in setting goals/resolutions is that it makes us uncomfortable.  We have to give up something for the promise of something greater.  We give up eating special treats we love for the hope of reducing our dress size…we exercise and sweat, we become uncomfortable for the hope of becoming stronger and having more energy.  We stop spending money for the hope of paying off debt and having financial security or having the money for a trip to Hawaii.  This is really close to the kingdom rule…sacrifice comfort here for the sake of an eternal reward.  Denying self is not something that just happens to us, it is a decision to be uncomfortable for the sake of a greater cause; so a little practice in self discipline can certainly assist us in our endeavor to not live by the flesh.

 

I grew up as an only child, so I blame my non-competitive nature on the fact that I never had to deal with sibling rivalry.  I was a miracle baby born later in life to my mom and dad and I never had to do anything to impress them or try to win their approval—I was approved maybe a little too approved.  This was wonderful in many ways, but it also caused me to lack that edge to “strive” in areas of academics, sports or music.  I did well academically and made sure that I maintained what my mom expected from me, but I never pushed beyond that level.  I did not do well at sports…you have to have a bit of aggression to be good at sports and I didn’t want to step on anybody’s toes or get in their way.  You have to put manners aside and that didn’t work for me.  I loved music, but hated performing.   I never learned the skill of “pressing”.  Maybe that is why goal setting is a stumbling block for me.

 

At Thanksgiving, my husband (a firstborn child), daughter (a firstborn child) and her husband (a firstborn child) and I were all playing a card game.  My daughter transparently talked about how she hated to lose to her husband to which I commented, “Don’t you ever want to lose to give the other person a win?”  I was met with blank stares from around the table.  I felt like an alien.

 

I have gone through life happy and content without engaging in competition, enjoying seeing others win and celebrating other’s accomplishment of goals, but I don’t want to do that with my Christian life.  I want to run the race for the prize but I have come to realize that to run in this way will involve a little pressing and striving and that will include setting some clearly-defined goals that are fueled with correct motives and Godly values.

 

I recently watched the movie “Iron Will” about a teenage boy running a highly competitive dog race for the prize money to help his mom pay their debts after his father died suddenly.  Will, the teenager boy, had to be assertive in his training and during the race he faced ridicule, opposition from the other competitors, hunger, physical pain, he pushed himself to and past the point of exhaustion, he was forced to face and overcome fears, but he ran for the prize knowing his father would have been proud.

I want to run my Christian race like Will.  I want to run for the heavenly prize the way he ran for the goal, but I guess I need a goal first…..Goals????, Goals ?!?!, Goals!!!!