Desk of Dennis Piller
1/12/2022
Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.”
We have been discussing Goal setting, but I know most of you are really struggling. Some others are just tuning me out like we do the Pastor who brings us a 3 part series on Tithing each year and teaches us how it is a blessing and not a curse. (Whose listening except for a remnant?) So forgive me for pressing in on this and in on you.
We tell ourselves, “my relationships are fine, my job is fine, my life is fine. I’ll just stick with what I have been doing and just see…I have been ok up to now. Furthermore, the few times I have tried this I have failed, and I feel guilty and down on myself. Who needs that!
So, let’s get real. This is the time of year when discouragement usually sets in so let’s face it head-on. Why do people struggle to set goals?
Goal setting is hard because we typically don’t really sit down to think about our lives, what our values are and what we want to work toward in the next year, 5 yrs, 20 yrs. Instead, people often have vague, small, and irrelevant goals, an underdeveloped action plan, and an unclear routine to keep themselves accountable. Realizing how these traps are getting in the way of achieving your goals can save you months and years of fruitless and frustrating actions.
So let me ask you. What happens when you don’t set goals? The statistics say… if you don’t have them, you’re up to 30 times more likely to miss out on success. I’ve been revisiting how taking the time to actually write down your goals in a really inspiring way changes and shifts the way that you can show up for the life you want to create. Please don’t miss that part. “The life you want to create.”
Or you can let the world dictate that.
What does God say about setting goals?
Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
Proverbs 16:9 “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” …
Proverbs 21:5 “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”
It is normal to not attain all of our goals. So don’t beat yourself up. But at the same time don’t give up. One of the ways we gain create a better future and achieve new things is by giving up our excuses. Even a 10% gain is a great start.
“Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.” — Dale Carnegie
A couple of typical excuses are: 1. I don’t have the money. Money only limits us if we decide it will. When we are motivated by something critical or really meaningful, we find the money. If we SEE money as a scarce resource…It will be!
2. I don’t have the time: The truth: We have time for sports, friends, hobbies. We MAKE time for whatever is important to us. Stop letting your excuses derail you.
3. It’s not possible: Someone asked me 40 years ago what I would do if anything was possible, I told her, basically, “What a stupid question. Most of the things I want to do aren’t possible”. I promise you. I wish I could talk to that young man as I am speaking with you. All things are possible through Christ Jesus our Lord. Phil 4:11
Amazingly, I did most of them but it took time.
The easiest way to not achieve something is to do nothing.
So lets’ start off with two simple goals.
Don’t say maybe if you want to say no. And don’t say yes if you want to say no!
Lastly, this is so critical. The outcome that is most important is that we will be changed in the process however small the successes may be. Glorify God in every attempt and do it unto the Lord. Start by setting 3 specific goals for the next 60 days. Be realistic. Start small and set yourself up for success.
YES, you can do this with the help of the holy spirit.
Mercy Me Almost Home
