Replacing My Goals with His Goals

Well, it's the end of yet another month! This year isn't wasting any time going by, is it?
Time to check in with how we're doing meeting any goals we set for ourselves this year!

Last night, our family had our monthly meeting, and the kids were just too cute talking about how they're doing with their goals. Earlier in the day, I heard my 6 yr. old Courtney asking her 8 yr. old brother how he was doing with his goals. They had a little conversation about it which my 16 yr old and I found absolutely precious and hilarious! They were so serious about it!

On a side note, our pastor has been preaching through the book of Genesis for the past few months. Every single Sunday, I come out of church completely amazed at how God is speaking to me! This past Sunday was no exception. He was teaching about Joseph and how he responded to the trials in his life. Joseph handled his trials with such trust in God...never questioning, never growing bitter, never doing less than an excellent job. Instead of being angry at his situation (being a slave), he chose to trust the Lord, and God blessed everything Joseph touched. After he was comptroller of Potiphar's house, and things seemed to be going great for him, he ended up in prison on false charges! Yet he never became bitter. He continued to trust, and soon was in charge of the prison.

I say all of that for a reason. See, I have had 2 rather difficult trials this past month. These trials have driven me to my knees, and driven me to memorize Scripture. I have had no alternative but to trust God. There was nothing else I could do. Did I get angry? Yes. Have I felt bitterness trying to creep in? Absolutely. That's why I needed that sermon from yesterday so much! If Joseph could trust God when his own brothers hated him, and sold him to slave traders, how could I not trust Him? It makes my trials seem so small. Now each person's trials feel big to them, and they are. When our life gets turned upside down...when we feel like the rug is being jerked out from under us...it is hard. That is when we need to throw ourselves at the feet of Jesus and beg Him for grace.

So, with all of that said, back to the goals. As I looked over my goals that I set back in January, I felt like I hadn't done so well this month! But then I remembered the Scripture I've been learning; the extra time I had spent praying; the crying out to God; the time spent reading the Word; the special way God had spoken to me through those sermons; and I realized that He had exchanged my goals for His goals.

The goals I set are good goals. They will help me to be more healthy, more spiritually mature, more rested, and more cheerful. There is nothing wrong with setting these goals. I actually am doing pretty good in some of them!

But let's see what God's Word says about setting goals. Proverbs 16:9 says, "The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."

I firmly believe that He wants me to set goals. Without a goal, how will I know if I make any progress? But, I believe even more that I must be open to allowing Him to change those goals. God has been directing my steps this past month in ways I did not want to go. I certainly would have never chosen these trials. Would Joseph have chosen to become a slave and be torn away from his family? Would he have chosen to be thrown into prison? No!

But my pastor made a statement on Sunday morning that I wrote down; "God cannot work through you until He works in you to teach, train, and equip you." If God is working in me, He must have a serious reason. He wants to see growth in my life, and trials are the way He brings about the growth. That is, if I choose to trust and submit to His will.

None  of this is easy. Sometimes these trials just stink. They make it difficult just to function some days. But I know that in the end, His goals for me will change my life. They won't make me skinnier, or healthier, or happier. But they will make me holier, and isn't that the main goal?

So that's where I stand. If you have read this far, bless your heart!!

Please leave a comment below telling us how you're doing with your goals. I have the comment feature fixed now so that anyone can comment, even if you don't have a Google account!