I don’t mean that I am exactly what God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal. But I continue trying to reach it and make it mine. That’s what Christ Jesus wants me to do. It is the reason he made me his. Philippians 3:12 ERV
C. S. Lewis knew what Paul knew. He said, “You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream.” None of us are yet all that we have been created to be. It’s always a good time for fresh dreams and goals. Goals motivate, stretch, and grow us, and whenever we move into a new season of life, we need to meet the season with updated, focused goals.
What season are you in right now? Take time to think, reflect, and look at your heart. Look at the values, the dreams, and the hopes that live there. God will speak to you. He says it is His plan to give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4), but He doesn’t do it by waving a wand. He works with us toward their fulfillment. Don’t rush your thinking and consideration of what goals can and should be yours at this time of life. Some of the goals may be obvious because those dreams are right on the surface. But some of our most significant dreams are deeper. Perhaps they have been buried by too many opinions and fears that we could never do it. But God says He can accomplish through us more than our wildest dreams (Ephesians 3:20). Let your heart soar!
As you dream and then work with God, it’s vital to remove all the distractions you can. Focus matters. In verse 15 of Philippians 3, Paul says, “This ONE thing I do.” Your world is full of distractions. The more you run from one to another, the less you will accomplish. The key to living effectively is to figure out what matters most, do what matters most, and let go of everything else.
God knows you can’t do everything, and He doesn’t expect that of you. This is my distraction personally. I am continually tempted to try to have multiple areas of equal focus in accomplishing goals. It never works. My greatest success and satisfaction come when I prayerfully work with God to know what is most important right now and start taking strategic steps toward it. He will help me reach my goal and then move to the next one.
- Sometimes when we begin to consider the things we could and should do, we allow ourselves to get so overwhelmed, we paralyze ourselves and do nothing. Focus moves us forward wisely. You and God will decide what matters most now. Then get started. You will be delighted as you experience what you and God can accomplish.