I must confess that this particular topic is not near and dear to my heart. I have serious butterfly tendencies as personality goes, which definitely works against any kind of planning or goal-setting. I listen to people who are driven that way and certainly admire their accomplishments and single-minded purpose, but have never been tempted to apply it personally. I guess I excuse myself figuring that a "creative" temperment flourishes best when it can "flit" around. I say excuse because I think that's what it is, a lame excuse.
I read something recently that piqued my interest and caused me to rethink the whole concept of goal-setting. The author talked about having set life goals with her husband many years previously and how those goals were still useful to her in her life to help her determine choices and directions even on a daily basis. I'd never thought of using "goals" as a way to determine direction or choice. I'm sure that's not particularly revolutionary to anyone else, but to my thinking it has revolutionary implications.
She for example had a goal of teaching women. She felt led of the Lord to be such a teacher, and since it was inline with Scripture it made it to her life-goal list. Having that goal on a list made choices about Bible courses, study groups, reading certain books and other related activities easy to evaluate for participation. It also made it easier to eliminate other things that did not prosper any of her listed goals. It made it easier to see "the fluff", so that she could better handle her time, redeeming it as we are admonished to in Scripture.
This appeals to me because I feel I often lack discernment as to which of the many opportunities which are presented on a daily/weekly/yearly basis are the ones that God would have me partake of. Everything sounds good or bad because I don't have a clear view of the Master's plan and tend to react based on the mood or circumstances of the moment. Perhaps that bears rethinking.
Daniel comes to mind as an example of a similar attitude. Dan. 1:8 says "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself." Daniel acted on a decision previously made, when he "purposed in his heart".
Goal choices lead to behavior changes. Those changes become habits. Dan. 6:10 "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God as was his custom since early days." Daniel's choices that day were life and death according to the law. Daniel knew what to do and how to do it. He did not have to agonize over whether to close his curtains or whether to forgoe praying for 30 days. An early "purposing of his heart" had led to behavior choices which were now ingrained habits.
So, what do my life goals look like? What behavior choices do they require? What habits have they or should they produce? Good questions, I guess it's time to write them down.
