Aim for the Goal

Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!

1 CORINTHIANS 9:24

“YOU CAN DO ANYTHING you put your mind to.”

Someone has probably said this very thing to you, hoping to encourage you. There’s some truth to it—when you set a goal and work toward it, your effort and determination get you closer to the goal. You may meet it or you may not, but trying is always worth it. As Christians, we have a special calling to work toward important goals. They may be goals we set ourselves, or they may be goals like following God’s commands or spreading the word about his love. A goal, though, is something we determine for ourselves. Others can want us to achieve something, but a goal comes from within. It’s a challenge to yourself.

What goals have you set for yourself? Maybe it’s getting a high grade, jumping a certain distance, or scoring a number of points. Goals are great things because they drive us forward. We want to achieve the goal, so we’re willing to do the work it takes. God wants us to achieve our goals too. He will give us strength when we feel weak and encourage us when we want to quit. We can remember Jesus’ goal of saving us from our sins—just imagine what he went through to achieve that goal! And while it’s great to have goals in our lives, it’s very important to make some of our goals ways to strengthen our faith. Ask God what kinds of goals he wants you to set. You can do it!

DO

Ask a few people what kinds of goals they have for themselves. Discuss the goals you have and why you want to achieve those things. And if you don’t have specific goals, ask someone to help you set two.

PRAY

Dear God,

Thank you for encouraging me to set goals in my life and in my faith. Please help me stay strong and not give up. Let me stay focused on my goals and be disciplined enough to achieve them. Amen.

READ

Proverbs 21:5; Philippians 3:13-14