The Pursuit of Godly Goals and Desires
Has He [God] said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Numbers 23:19
One key to successful living is learning to distinguish a godly goal from a godly desire.
A godly goal is any specific orientation reflecting God's purpose for your life that does not depend on people or circumstances beyond your ability or right to control. Who do you have the ability and right to control? Virtually no one but yourself. The only person who can block a godly goal or render it uncertain or impossible is you.
By contrast, a godly desire is any specific orientation that depends on the cooperation of other people or the success of events or favourable circumstances you cannot control. You cannot base your self-worth or your personal success on your desires, no matter how godly they may be, because you cannot control all the people or circumstances that affect fulfilment.
When people or circumstances block our goals, we get angry. If our mentally perceived goal is uncertain, we feel anxious. If the goal appears impossible, we get depressed. But what God-given goal can be blocked, uncertain or impossible? With God all things are possible, and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. No one can keep us from being what God wants us to be except us.
Notice how God distinguishes between goals and desires. John wrote, "My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin" (1 John 2:1). Certainly God desires that we don't sin, but His status as God and His purposes cannot be blocked by anyone who exercises his will against repentance. But it is God's desire that everyone repent even though not everyone will.
God accomplished His goal when Jesus said, "It is finished." What God has determined to do, He will do, so we can be all that He created us to be.
Lord, show me Your purposes for my life and help me make them my goals.
Neil T. Anderson is the founder of Freedom in Christ Ministries. He began the ministry in 1989 and continues to spread the message of freedom to this day.