I never realized until he was in college my son always wanted a sling shot. He shared this desire one day while we were at the Bass Pro Shop. So I bought him a nice sportsman’s model used for hunting. When we arrived home, he rushed into the yard and found some suitable size rocks for shooting. He decided that for the first few shots he would just randomly shoot without really aiming at anything. This would give him a feel for his new weapon. Well, the first rock he hurled off went straight up in the air and came down shattering the back window of his car. That was the first and only time he used his sling shot.
I do not know who came up with the phrase, “aim at nothing and you will hit nothing,” but obviously, they have never shot guns, bows and arrows, or sling shots. Regardless of what you shoot, whether you aim or not, it will hit something. Not aiming can result in the projectile falling randomly in a harmless place, but it can also be devastating and even deadly. I understand why people use this phrase when pointing out the need for setting goals. But the reality is that whether we make goals or not everyone’s life will ‘hit’ something or go somewhere. However, if we do not establish goals or aim at something, then we will probably end up somewhere we have no desire of being.
Having taught both Church Administration and Management Skills for many years, setting goals comes natural for me. Everyone needs goals in their life. It is sad observing people live as if they were a piece of driftwood flowing down a swift river. They just go with the flow moving through life never accomplishing anything and are usually unhappy. God made all us with a purpose. You might already be saying, “I don’t have a clue what it is.” Then your first goal is asking God for help discovering the purpose for which He created you.
Goals give us a direction in life and help us move beyond the status quo. Ask yourself if you are satisfied with where you are in life and the direction in which you are headed. Would you like your life to remain unchanged and still be the same in ten years? If you have never established any goals, most likely you are not entirely happy with life and desire something different.
Note several principles about setting goals. Goals do not always involve just the spiritual aspects of life although all goals should be grounded on biblical principles. We can make goals as a family or goals concerning our employment, our physical health, or educational advancement. Second, goals must be measureable within a defined time frame. Without these, you will not know if or when you have reached your goal. “I want to memorize some scriptures.” Well! You could memorize two verses over the next five years and have fulfilled that desire. Third, goals must be realistic. “I plan on memorizing the entire Bible this year.” Unless you are a genius with a very high IQ, you will probably be disappointed. An appropriate goal would be “I will memorize one scripture every week this year.” This is measurable, within a time frame, and reasonable.
Break up major goals into short term goals. Focusing on a life changing long term goal, can be overwhelming and appear impossible. Take for example that you may not have graduated from high school, but always wanted a Master’s degree. Begin by focusing on a short term goal of earning your GED. Next, set a goal of completing one semester of college and then another and another. One small step at the time you will work your way toward earning a Master’s degree. “Well, that will take years!” Yes, that may be true. But so what if it takes ten years. You will have fulfilled your desire and your life will be better than it is now. I’ve had several students who retired at sixty-five years old and began this process. One of my students received her Bible College degree when she was eighty years old with plans for beginning graduate work.
Goals help us stay on course through difficult times. Nehemiah set the goal of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and accomplished it in fifty-two days. He faced opposition and discouragement the entire time. However, he had a goal and kept pushing forward. He gives us an essential key for success. They were all trying to frighten us. . . But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands“ (Neh 6:9 NIV). Success does not lie in self-motivation, but by moving in the power of God. Paul also gives two significant passages in Philippians. His long term goal: I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (3:14). Means of accomplishing his goal: And, I can do all things through him who strengthens me (4:13). If you do not aim at something, you will probably remain in your same-ole, same-ole unfulfilled life and possibly end up where you have no desire of being.
Sustaining Word for the Week: God made you for a purpose. Aim at something this year and with God’s guidance and strength, you will hit the right target.