Goals
I just heard a very inspiring sermon by Pastor Steven Furtick of Elevation Church and I want to share with you what I have learned over the years about goals and how they can become things that will trip us up if we don’t handle them correctly. I am all for goal setting, don’t get me wrong. I have lots of goals myself, and in the past I have let them become idols and a source of condemnation of myself. And that is what I want you to avoid. It is a pitfall that haunts us all year after year.
In Isaiah 27:1-2 God’s Word says: “In that day, the Lord will punish with his sword his fierce, great and powerful sword, Leviathan the gliding serpent, Leviathan the coiling serpent he will slay the monster of the sea. In that day - Sing about a fruitful vineyard.
Each day is “That Day”. The day in which we have to fight and the day where we will bear fruit. Some days will have more fight and some more fruit. But the point is, each day is a new day. Each day is a new chance to either fight or bear fruit or some of both. And the 2 go together. Without the fight, the fruit isn’t possible. It’s in the fight we establish roots in the dirt, the dirty part, the ugly. But it is important to understand that in order for us to grow to the point where the fruit is possible, we have to go through the dirty part. Just like when you plant seeds in the spring for a garden. Those seeds have to spend time in the dirt so they can be nourished enough to sprout above the dirt to grow and bear fruit. Its in the dirt where God nourishes us and prepares us for the fruit. Don’t dismiss the importance of the dirt.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it’s own.” It is important to set long range goals, but you have to focus on 24 hours at a time. We can only handle 24 hours at a time. It’s easy to get stuck in “One day when………”. You will never reach “One day when……” without doing what you need to do each day to get to “One day when……”. For instance, if your goal for 2024 is to lose body fat and get stronger, and gain muscle, what is it you need to do each day, week and month to reach that goal? You have to focus on the process, not the goal itself. And because each day consists of both fight and fruit, you have to leave room for disappointment and realize some days will be more fight than fruit and that is normal. Embrace the days that are dirty because those are the days that prepare you for the fruitful days. Remember that each day is a new chance to be successful! And if you focus on that instead of the end game you will be more likely to reach your goals.
It’s a choice each morning. When you open your eyes, make the choice. God’s Word says in Psalm 118:24, “This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.” Decide each day that you will make the best of that day. Whether or not the day is a good one or a “bad” one. Choose to see it as good either way. Because you are either fighting or bearing fruit. Either way, it is leading to the end Goal. Choose to see each day as an opportunity to be nourished in a way that leads to the fruit, the good stuff. Embrace each day for what it is and remember that each morning is a new day, and new 24 hours, a new chance to work toward the end goal.
Lamentations 3:22-23
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Elevation Church Sermon Sunday January 7, 2024 - Pastor Steven Furtick