A
man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his
steps. Proverbs 16:9
Get Vision.
Whatever your goal will be, make this
your vision and pray that God will lead you to see clearly what the
real purpose of your goal is. Some soul searching may be required
and that may require for you to surrender some deep things in your
soul and let go of things or emotions that you hold on to.
Get Practical.
Carve out some time in your schedule
and sit down with the necessary tools. You'll need any number of
tools, such as a calendar, calculator, computer, “project work
book”, pen and pencil, to mention a few. Sit down and begin to make
a wish list and then consider what is the first priority on your
list. Start with the top one. Consider the steps that it will take to
reach your top priority and then right down the steps that you think
will help accomplish your goal.
Make a Plan.
Whether your plan is to lose weight,
get in shape, stop smoking, curb a bad habit or just to spend more
time with family or even to promise yourself a special vacation, you
must make a plan. Set reasonable target dates for your progress and a
list of things that might be a distraction or prevent you from
reaching your goal.
Do The Research
Although it's tempting, this is a step
that you should never skip. Always consider your spiritual condition
and your relationship with God as you decide what is right for you.
Ask yourself, “Would God be pleased if I do it this way?” While
something may look like the right application to reach your goal, it
may be rooted in something that God would not be pleased with. Doing
research will help you uncover the truth and will solidify the steps
that you will take to achieve your goal. These steps will also help
to eliminate or at least decrease any road blocks that you may face
along the way. Anticipating these steps will also help prevent you
from getting side tracked and distracted. That's not to say that
there won't be surprises or detours that you have to make a long the
way, but they will be less if you plan your steps. Most importantly,
because you did the research, you know that you have customized a
plan that works for you.
Pray Along The Way
None of this comes without careful
prayer and leading by the Holy Spirit. He will give you vision as
you're waiting for that peace that God gives in the midst of your
plans. The steps that you plan will be like “steps of faith”. He will honour each step of faith and will help you reach your goal.
He is with you and he would love nothing more than for you to bounce
ideas off of him. He loves that you take time to check in with him
and have great conversation as you take each step of faith. He will
hold your hand, just trust in him and he'll keep you strong and
focused. He will cheer you on until you reach your goal.
