Lesson #19. ESTABLISHING PERSONAL GOALS AND ACTIVITIES.

KEY TRUTH: A workshop style lesson on setting personal, family, work, and ministry goals with activities to achieve those goals.

I. EXPLORING GOD’S CALLING ON YOUR LIFE:

1. THE WORLD PROVIDES ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES AND DISTRACTIONS: Your parents who love you have high hopes and plans for you. The education system tries to prepare you for a future vocation. The world has its own allurements and distractions. These may fulfill certain temporal goals. The child of God is urged – 1 … by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Rom.12:1-2).
   So what is God’s will?
2. GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR EVERY PERSON’S LIFE: Jeremiah was called to be a prophet even before he was born (see Jer.1:4). The apostle Paul was a persecutor of Christians before his conversion. However, he learned that he was called 15 … a chosen instrument of Mine to carry My name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of My name (Acts 9:15-16). He pursued this direction with passion and confidence until his dying day (see 2 Tim.4:6-8). You must discover why God has made you and then set about reaching your full potential.
3. GOD HAS AN OVERARCHING PLAN FOR EVERY BLOOD-BOUGHT CHILD OF GOD: Paul expressed it as – For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers (Rom.8:29). Put simply, God called you to grow to become more like Jesus. Therefore, all your plans should reflect His blueprint.
4. GOD HAS GIVEN A CALLING AND VISION TO THE CHURCH: The primary calling of the church is expressed in the Great Commission of Jesus – 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Mt.28:19-20). All the redeemed as part of the body of Christ are to make this their priority.
5. OUR PLANS AND ACTIVITIES SHOULD REFLECT THESE DIVINE CALLINGS: If your purpose in life is not related to God’s design for your life it will lead to frustration, insecurity, and boredom. This in turn will affect all other relationships in life.
6. YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE MUST BE RELATED TO GOD’S PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE: – for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body (1 Cor.6:20) … You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men (1 Cor.7:23). All you learn about plans and activities should build on the callings explained above.

II. GOD’S PROMISES TO HELP YOU DISCOVER HIS PURPOSE:

1. DISCOVER WHAT GOD PRE-PLANNED FOR YOU TO DO: For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Eph.2:10). Realise that the Lord has designed you to serve Him in your life.
2. TRUST THAT GOD WILL GIVE YOU CLEAR DIRECTION: I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go (Ps.34:10). As you wait upon the Lord, He will make His plans for you plain.
3. BEGIN BY PRAYING FOR CLARITY FROM GOD AND HIS WORD: 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil.4:6-7). God promises to guide you and give His peace.
4. RECOGNISE HOW GOD HAS GIFTED AND WIRED YOU: 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness (Rom.12:6-8). As you serve, God will show you the best way to bring glory to Him by asking questions:
   1. What activities bring joy to your heart?
   2. In what work have you been most successful?
   3. What motivates you to serve others?
   4. Are you looking for God’s ‘open door’? Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart (Ps.37:4).
5. SEEK OUT AND LISTEN TO EXPERIENCED AND GODLY COUNSEL: Where there is no guidance, people fall, but in an abundance of counsellors there is safety (Prov.11:14) … but a wise man listens to advice (Prov.12:15). We are wise to value the guidance and advice of others to gain perspective.
6. BE SENSITIVE TO GOD’S LEADING AND OPEN DOORS: … The words of the Holy One, the True One, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens (Rev.3:7). Commit the decision to God. Rely on Him to open or close the door.
7. WAIT FOR GOD’S TIMING TO SHOW YOU THE WAY: Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! (Ps.27:14 c.f. Prov.3:4-5).

III. DEVELOPING GOALS TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOD-GIVEN PURPOSE:

1. Acceptable Before considering SMART goals (i.e. Specific – Measurable – Achievable – Relevant -Timely) remember that your goals must not contravene a principle of the Scriptures and should be pleasing to God …
2. Specific Be clear on what the goal is and what activities will help you complete them.
3. Measurable There is no point formulating plans that you cannot measure because you will not know when or whether they have been achieved.
4. Achievable Your goals must be realistic and not depend upon others for their fulfilment.
5. Relevant The goal must make a significant difference in your overall progress.
6. Timely What is the final deadline for this objective to be completed? Enter the Activities in your weekly, fortnightly, or monthly

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Rom.8:28)

IV. A SIMPLE WAY TO PLAN:

1. WHY? You will never achieve your plans if you are not clear about why you should plan and what difference it will make to your life. Thoroughly review and be convinced about the above principles and Scriptures.
2. WHO? You should not embark upon planning goals or activities without first seeking wisdom from the Lord.
3. WHAT? You will not know what activities you need to develop if you do not have clear goals.
4. WHICH? There are different plans for different areas and responsibilities of your life. Keep your plans simple to make them achievable.
5. HOW? Once you have identified your goals you need to consider how they will be accomplished with accompanying activities.
6. WHEN? Your goals should have a time frame and your activities planned into a weekly, fortnightly, or monthly schedule OR entered into a diary.
7. HOW MUCH? You may need to budget to ensure you have the resources to accomplish your goals and activities.

V. SETTING PERSONAL GOALS & ACTIVITIES:

(Select those that apply to you)

1. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD:
   

   Goal 1: ___________________________________________________________
   ______________________________________________________________

   Activity 1: _________________________________________________________
   ______________________________________________________________

   Activity 2: _________________________________________________________
   ______________________________________________________________ etc.

   The following headings identify areas in your life for which you want to form GOALS you wish to achieve and ACTIVITIES that will help you follow through …

2. My Relationship to my Spouse [Family]:
3. My Relationship with my Children [Grandchildren]:
4. My Church Involvement [Ministries]:
5. My Discipleship Relationships [Accountability]:
6. My Mission Relationships:
7. My Relationship with Non-Believers:
8. My Home Duties & Recreation:
9. Influence of Idols [Technology]:
10. My Finances:
11. My Education:
12. My Employment:

ADD CATEGORIES THAT APPLY TO YOU …