Spiritual Goals & Desires – Abiding in the Vine
If we’re in the Vine, former procrastinators, the life flowing through us should look like Jesus. That should be reflected in our goals and desires. Now that we’ve looked at five characteristics of a disciple of Jesus, we could consider something to focus on in each of the five areas and make those things goals.
That statement could be alarming because we know being close to Jesus is not punching a do list. However, shouldn’t we be as deliberate about growing in Christ personally and following His lead in our lives as we are about “getting things done”? If He’s our priority, shouldn’t our goals reflect that? Shouldn’t He choose those goals?
First, here’s one of the most freeing things I’ve learned – a difference between goals and desires. These things apply to spiritually-oriented goals as well as to goals like cleaning the garage.
I heard a Christian military speaker say making general is not a good goal. Why not? The candidate does not have control over all the factors that bring about that promotion. He has no control over who else is up for consideration, over his evaluations, over the needs of the service (submariner or surface warfare man). He cannot make it happen. Making general is a good desire.
There are things the candidate can do about his own performance. Likewise, there are things we can do related to desires we cannot make happen. We can set goals related to the desires that could make the desires more likely or easier to happen.
Put this in our world. I cannot make my family eat healthy. Force-feeding is not an option. But WHAT CAN I DO related to my desire that they eat wisely? I can serve healthy meals. I can eat healthy as an example. I can provide only healthy snacks.
Does your teen want to be class president? She cannot make that happen. She can make six posters for every hall, hand out lollipops with her name on them, make a speech in assembly.
The pressure to do something I have no power to do is gone. I now see specific things I can do toward a goal, facilitating it though I cannot make it happen.
None of us can make ourselves a patient person. But that fruit of the Spirit is facilitated when we calmly say, “Johnny, get the towel and wipe up the floor” instead of shouting “No!” and jerking him out of the puddle. Exercising patience in one moment makes it easier to demonstrate patience again. In time, under the Spirit, we become patient. We don’t drum up affectionate feelings for a grouchy neighbor and call ourselves loving. But we can demonstrate love by delivering a pot of soup. “Can-do steps” make it easier for the desire to happen.
Reading scripture regularly, scripture memory, meeting with a godly mentor monthly are goals we have control over. Each of these facilitates changes in us that result in our becoming more mature disciples.
What goals will you set related to a spiritual desire?
