I’m not sure what it is about religion that has convinced us that goal setting isn’t possible, but that’s not true and it’s not even Biblical!  Seriously, how often have we heard or even said something like, “I’m just waiting on the Lord.”  

This kind of language is so common in Christian circles but the truth is that they’re simply in a state of lazy, inactivity calling it “waiting on the Lord” to sound spiritual.  The truth is that Jesus operating on this earth walked as a diligent doer accomplishing his entire list of action items (the law and prophets) written for Him over thousands of years.  

Jesus was the ultimate Diligent Doer.  He didn’t miss one action item and we can learn how to accomplish goals from His life if we are willing to listen. 

Jesus wasn’t Religious.  He was REAL.

Jesus had a real life with real goals.  He wasn’t religious about God because God was real to Him.  As a consequence, He operated on this earth and really accomplished good.  Sometimes we as Christians have good intentions, but we get religious with God which brings us from real into fantasy land.  It ends up robbing our ability to accomplish something for the kingdom of God. 

What is a “Happy Hoper”? 

• Happy Hoper is someone who is constantly “going to do” something…someday.  They’re full of hopes and dreams but they’re always in the future and never in the present.

This is the default state of many people.  We really think we want to do something, but it turns out we aren’t actually doing anything today to get there. 

If you aren’t performing an action to get to closer to completing your goal EVERYDAY then you won’t ever reach your goals.

Sounds simple right?  But this one concept changed my life.  I used to think I was going places, but I would never write it down.  I’d never measure my progress, and eventually as time would go on my goals would end up sliding around. 

These kind of people lookup and find themselves in the same place they were 15 years ago with that same desire to change. 

What’s a “Diligent Doer”?

• Diligent Doer – someone who is willing to do whatever it takes to be successful by the consistent application of effort to accomplish a specific goal. 

These are people who are willing to write down what they want to accomplish, track their progress and make a quality decision to change. You’ll never accomplish anything for God or in your career if you aren’t willing to make a decision to track your progress and stick to your goals.

How to become a “Diligent Doer”

Ok so how are we going to become diligent doers?  There are a few actions that we can do to become diligent in everything we do. These are things that when you do them right you can accomplish any goal that you set for yourself in life. 

Honestly, the things in this next section that I’m about to outline opened up a whole new world for me and shifted my perspective from hoping things were going to happen to making things happen with God. 

God wants to work with you to accomplish the goals He has placed in your heart.  If you have a desire to do something chances are God wants that thing to happen for you too it’s just a matter of timing and operating in faith!

#1 Write your Goals Down

You’d be surprised how many people are walking in generalities. 

• I want to lose weight.
• or, I want to eat better.
• I want a better job.

Ok but…

• How much weight do you want to lose?
• What is “better food”?
• What is a “better job” – more hours, higher pay, longer breaks?

The truth is that people don’t set clear goals and then they wonder why they never accomplish anything in their life!

You measure what you treasure.  It’s just that simple. 

Jesus did exactly this when He read from Isaiah…

18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

Luke 4:18 KJV

Jesus had hundreds of very specific goals written out for Him.  

#2 Set aside METATIME

OK don’t let this term scare you.  Really all we are talking about is setting aside time to think about how you’re spending your time.

Jesus did this in Mark 1:35.

35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Mark 1:35 KJV

Jesus was focused on how He spent His time.  I heard a man say something once, “The more I have to do, the more I find I need to pray.”

This is the truth!  We see that exact thing in our lives.  As we start to do things for God, it takes life out of you.  You have to spend time building yourself up on your most holy faith – praying in other tongues.  This goes right along with our next point.

#3 Pray over your goals in tongues and in English.

20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:

23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Jude 20-23 KJV

The Spirit – Holy Spirit – makes intercession with groanings which cannot be uttered.  It takes praying over your goals to  bring the supernatural into the natural.  If you want to walk by faith and not by sight it starts with your secret place (Psalms 91). 

Notice the three things that this will do for you. Praying in tongues…

1. Keeps you in the love of God.
2. Allows you to have compassion “making a difference”
3. Witness to those lost in need of Jesus “pulling them out of the fire…”

#4 Return to Gilgal when you accomplish your goals – give Jesus credit. 

David and his mighty men always returned to Gilgal when they won a battle.  This is a type of your or me returning to the cross to give Jesus the credit for every goal that we accomplish.  

Bonus!!

Track your goals and the accomplishment of those goals.  Track them somewhere where you can review it years later to remind yourself of the faithfulness of God.  Once you get started there’s no stopping.  You will see the faithfulness of God over and over again and want to continue to write about how good God is.  

God is GOOD.  

Wrapping Up

Ok so we covered a lot of things but nothing in very much detail.  The truth is that this isn’t a 2 second post or a topic that you can just cover in a few minutes.  It takes a lot to be successful, but God wants you and me succeeding in everything that we do!

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