Dr. Randy Carlson
The research is clear that when you set a goal, you are more likely to reach that goal. Simply setting a goal will make you more likely to be successful at whatever it is. But as believers we have to ask important questions. What are the goals and dreams God has for us? What does God think of setting goals?
Let’s look at the convergence of God’s intention about our dreams and the practicality of everyday life when it comes to setting goals.
We know that a worthwhile dream will change our lives. Consider Proverbs 29:18. “Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint” (niv). This verse is saying that God gives us a revelation, and when we don’t have it, we’re going to cast off restraint and ultimately perish. In this Old Testament verse, the revelation of God is the law that was given to the Israelites. And that gave constraints. It showed them how to live.
So, how does that apply to us in the church age, those of us living after the first coming of Christ? We see in Acts 2 that the early church was commanded to go to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit to come. Then fire came down from Heaven, and people began to speak and understand other languages. All because the Holy Spirit came over them.
Look at Acts 2:21. Peter was quoting the Old Testament prophet Joel when he said, “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (esv) The commentators say that this prophesy points to the idea that every dream that is worthwhile is intended to point someone to Christ.
[bctt tweet=”every dream that is worthwhile is intended to point someone to Christ.” username=”TheILCenter”]
We may all have dreams and goals—both the young and the old. Maybe we want to get out of debt or lose some weight. Perhaps we’d like to raise responsible kids or buy a home. These aren’t bad goals. But a goal that doesn’t originate with God will ultimately not satisfy.
Maybe you’re in a place where you feel like you’re spinning your wheels. You may be doing good things, and maybe you’re even happy. But if you feel like you’re not in the place that you really want to be—that you aren’t really experiencing God’s best for you—why not start with a dream worth pursing?
So how do we find those worthwhile dreams, the ones that point people to Christ and satisfy the longing in our hearts? We’ll dig into that in the next blog post.
Go Deeper
Has this article been encouraging? Take your intentional life in Christ to the next level and you can receive ongoing, monthly coaching from Dr. Randy Carlson. Become a member of the Intentional Living Center today with your monthly gift of any amount.
Recommended Product
