Setting Goals with a Godly Focus and Purpose

Now that 2016 is over, (many say was a horrible year) whether that is true or not; the year is over. It is now time to focus on a new year, a new you; a better you. I came across a wonder bible study the other day from Rick Warren, if you are not familiar with him than look him up. He is most known for his book, Purpose of a Driven Life (2002). The podcast that I landed upon the other day was obviously God’s doing. I have struggled a lot lately with what God’s plan for me, what is it that he has in store for my life? I think we all struggle with this from time to time. This new study is called Transformation, and it hit me hard as I was listening to the podcast. First off he starts with in Philippians 3:12, “Not that I have already obtained, or am I already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I laid hold on by Christ Jesus.” In other words Paul stated “You know, you are not yet who God wants you to be.” The truest of all questions, “What does or who does God want me to be or do?” As I came to a crossroads in my life, I am struggling with these question.

I have always had a desire to be a writer, I love writing and creating characters. I get into their personalities and really feel who they become. Sometimes the characters’ personalities are people I have come into contact with throughout life, and some I based upon similar characters that I have read or seen elsewhere. The thing is that as much as I enjoy making up stories and telling them to future readers, lately I feel a pull from God to go deeper and pull him into the mix; after all if not for God I would not have this talent for writing. A few months ago I decided to break into the blogging and it is not easy getting viewers. As I keep writing, I keep praying that I will get the views and my writing will inspire someone. With each blog, I write, I always incorporate the words from God, he is a huge inspiration for me and I want to share this with others.

As I stated earlier I was listening to a podcast from Rick Warren called Transformed, and the first 3 lessons were titled Setting Personal Goals by Faith. He clearly and precisely stated that we must have GOALS. A Goal is nothing more than a dream, except a goal has a timeline at the end of it. A dream is merely that, just a dream no action required. The goals that we set for ourselves can be long-term, even 20-40 year span, but as you start out on your journey towards that goal you will set and meet smaller goals that will eventually get you to the final finale. Rick used a wonderful example of someone setting and accomplishing goals, he said, “Take a patient that has just gotten out of major surgery, goal 1 sit up in bed, goal 2, sit up in bed with feet over the side of the bed, goal 3, go to the bathroom without help, goal 4, walk to the door, goal 5, walk down the hallway, and finally goal 6, walk out of the hospital. All of these goals may take weeks to do, but in the end the walking out of the hospital was accomplished and the patient succeeded. He also said that we should not make excuses. Like I am a man, I am a woman, I am too old, I am too young, or I am not good enough; believe and have true faith and God will see you through.

I listened with a human ear, but I heard with Godly hearing. I heard the Lord speak to me and he told me to not be scared any longer. I had always dreamed of being a writer, no more am I dreaming. This has not gotten me anywhere, I have set a goal to become published author by the year 2020. If I happen to do this sooner, then so be it, but my goal is by 2020 I will have at least one book out on E-Book. What steps will I take to achieve this attainable goal, I will continue to blog and write short stories and poems to help enhance my skills as a writer.

I have the education and the knowledge to write, and I have the talent that God has blessed me with, so I am going to take that leap and dedicate myself and writing to God and have faith and that my goal will become reality. I also feel that the lord has an even better job out there for me as well. I spent 10 years in college, writing papers and listening to lectures and counseling people on a variety of subjects, I love teaching and I love helping children and adults and I feel that God has something for me that will allow me to help others become better people, whether it is through education, spiritually, or both.

A new year is upon us, and with each minute of the day you can make a decision to change and become better. Will you fail, maybe? Will you learn, most defiantly? Make that decision, no matter what it is, have faith the size of a mustard seed and you will move mountains. NO MORE RESOLUTIONS, NO MORE DREAMS, make GOALS with timeline. GO NOW, Pray and let God talk to you and find your place in this world.