Setting Goals

Philippians 3:13b-14 “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” NIV

Throughout my adult years, I always laughed about how I had weighed 135 pounds in junior high school, but that number was totally unattainable. I would shop for clothing and skip the misses section altogether. Straight to the plus sized selections I’d go, inwardly feeling discouraged and hating the thought of having to try on yet another bigger size than the last time. They were just making clothes different than they used to, I’d reason to myself. 

“If I could just get below 200 pounds, I’d be happy,” I thought to myself. I had just started my weight-loss journey, and I didn’t really know what my goal should be. All I knew was that I wanted to lose weight. I was currently 225 pounds, and I remembered having been around 190 when I became pregnant with both of my children. That wasn’t so bad I thought. Surely, if I can lose just 26 pounds, I’d be satisfied with that. So I set my goal. 199 it was. I reached it. And I still wasn’t happy. I knew it wasn’t enough because I was only one size smaller! How could this be? I thought my life would be so different. After all, 26 pounds was a lot of weight! And besides that, no one had even noticed. Really! Not. one. person. noticed that I had lost the equivalent of a toddler! I was certainly proud of myself for my accomplishment, but I knew that I deserved to be healthy, and that God wanted me to be as well. 135 was starting to feel like the goal I needed to hit. I didn’t want to admit it, though, because that would mean that I had simply been making excuses all these years. Truth be told, that’s exactly what they were. I have a small skeletal frame, I’m only 5’3”, and 135 is a perfectly healthy weight for me. The only problem? 135 pounds was 64 pounds away! 

I again went to the Lord and asked for His help. He help me set attainable goals, 20 pounds per stage. I would only focus on 20 pounds at a time, trusting God for the next level. He was faithful. Trying to change my lifestyle and my body without having a goal was hard, to say the least. Once I organized my plan and had my goal in mind, it was much easier to finish my marathon.

Paul frequently uses athletic language in his writings, as he explains the goal of our spiritual lives. That is, to really, truly know Jesus, our Lord, in such a personal way as to share in His nature. As with a healthy lifestyle, and with weight management in general, our spiritual lives are also a journey. We must hold to the progress we have made in growing more like Him, never turning back, and ever drawing closer to His side. Paul was willing to give up everything, his education, his standing, his reputation, his freedom, and even his very life to obtain the “heavenly prize” of eternal life.

If we are going to be successful in our Christian lives, we must set goals for ourselves as well. How do we know how to pace ourselves in the race if we can’t locate the finish line? Could you set a goal for how long you will spend time with Him each day? Maybe you could set a goal for a particular ministry with which you want to be involved. Start attending a Bible study group and see where that leads. Aimlessly trying to live a Christian life without pressing toward a goal is difficult to say the least. Christ is the goal, though. Press toward Him!

Encouragement for Today

Proverbs 21:5 “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.” ESV

2 Chronicles 15:7 “But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.” ESV

Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” ESV