What Kind of Goal Does God Bless?

​​​What Kind of Goal Does God Bless?
By Rick Warren — December 29, 2014

 

“When you eat or drink or do anything else, always do it to honor God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 (CEV)

 

Not every goal that you can set is a good goal and one that God’s going to bless.

So how do you know the kind of goal that God will bless? Ask yourself these questions:

“Will my goal honor God?”

What kind of goal brings glory to God? Any goal that causes you to trust him more, to depend on him more, to love him more, to love other people more, to serve God, to serve others, to be more unselfish.

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “When you eat or drink or do anything else, always do it to honor God” (CEV). Everything can be done to honor God. You can take out the garbage to honor God. You can wash dishes to honor God. You can study for a test to honor God. How? By doing it with the right motive: gratitude. You want your life to bring honor to God, so your goals should help you be the best you can be for God’s glory. 

“Is my goal motivated by love?”

God is not going to bless a goal motivated by greed, envy, guilt, fear, or pride. But he does honor your goal that is motivated by a desire to demonstrate love to him and to others, because life is all about learning how to love.

Why is it important for you to have goals that are based on love? Because if you set loveless goals, you’re going to treat people as projects. You’re going to run all over them to get to your goal. You’re going to run over your marriage, your friends, and other people as you climb up the ladder of success. God says, “No. You’ve got it all wrong. It’s not about accomplishments. It’s about relationships. It’s about learning how to love.”

“Do everything in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14 NIV). The number one goal in your life should be to learn to really love — your family, neighbors, unlovely people, and those who are hard to love. That makes you more like God, because God is love.
 

Talk It Over

• What goals have you set for yourself for the next year? How do they hold up under these two questions?
• How does your attitude toward the menial tasks of your day change when you consider that everything can be done to honor God?
• How do the small moments of your life contribute to the bigger picture of your goals to achieve God’s purpose for your life?

Let Him Order Your Steps

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“...nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

(Luke 22:42, NKJV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Like most people at this time of year, you are probably thinking about some pretty big dreams and goals. That’s great. We should. But no matter what has happened in the past or what you’re dreaming for in the future, why don’t you let your New Year’s prayer be, “God, not my will, but Yours be done.” Maybe you’ve gone through a disappointment. You don’t understand it. You could easily be bitter and give up on your dreams. Realize today that God is at work in your life. He is directing your steps. What you thought was a setback is going to turn out to be a setup for a comeback! When you surrender your will to Him, when you humble yourself before Him, that’s when God can take you to another level. Let your prayer be, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” Today, as we finish the last few days of 2014, know that God has you in the palm of His hand. He has good plans in store for your future! Surrender to His will, trust Him with your whole heart, and let Him order your steps in the New Year!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, today I surrender every area of my heart, mind and life to You. Have Your way in me. Order my steps and let everything I am bring glory to You in Jesus’ name! Amen. PS... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x2IpLSfqp8