From The Pastor’s Pen – By Brian Horrobin
Let me ask you something today.
Do you set goals for yourself?
I read a terrific quote recently from Deena Kastor, the U.S. women’s marathon record holder.
Here is what she said: “A goal is just an awesome way to force growth on yourself.”
Growth, of course, requires that we not stay where we are but rather move forward.
The apostle Paul had a great way of describing this for his own life in Philippians 3:13-14: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
If our goal is a spiritual one, then how do we, in the words of Deena Kastor, force growth on ourselves?
It may mean taking that extra step to do what we haven’t been doing before.
With the Christmas season fast approaching, perhaps that could translate into attending church for the first time, or getting back to it if it is something we haven’t done in a while.
It could also mean deciding to start each day reading a few verses from the Bible and praying for some family members or friends.
Achieving a spiritual goal will take some effort, but the results will surely be worth the effort.
You may be of the mind to merely coast through life and just let it happen, but such an approach will not force any growth on yourself.
Deena Kastor didn’t set the record in the marathon by coasting through her training.
She set goals and then dug in and worked hard to attain them.
Let’s do the same with our relationship with God, shall we?
