purpose of a goal

I was thinking today about the purpose of goals. It's easy to want to accomplish things when I am motivated to do them, but the moments after that initial motivation is gone, often leave a strong pull to quit. Goals however often are what help me to keep persisting even when I'm tired and don't want to keep going.

When I was in college I went to a dessert supper one time at a teacher's house who had several different speakers come talk to us. I can't remember exactly what it was about... business related. There was one piece of advice that just about every one of the speakers hit on which stuck with me. It was the idea of deciding ahead of time of what you were going to do. In essence saying, "I'm going to do the right thing regardless of the cost." It takes the decision out in the split second where it is easy to waiver and do the wrong thing.

The same thing can be applied to goals. Instead of focusing on the obstacles, time is better served focusing on how to get it done despite the setbacks. So often this is where the biggest benefits come from sticking with the goals. As I've been going through the 90 day challenge, there are moments that I struggle and muddle my way through. Since I first started reading through my Bible, I have struggled through the different feasts, and the layout of the temple and some of the other laws that are found within those first few books, but today as I was reading I came across the heart of what all those commands are getting at. It says in Deuteronomy 7:24, "And the LORD commanded us do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, FOR OUR GOOD ALWAYS, that He might preserve us alive, as we are this day." Another passage talks about "the faithful God" and about His "steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments."

Sometimes in the middle of it the goal looks pointless... Maybe we read about a law that doesn't necessarily pertain to us anymore, or we run those miles when we don't have the time or energy, or whatever else it is, but we do it... and then eventually the purpose shows up. It isn't always crystal clear at the time, but is so often rewarded when we don't give up. Many times it is the accumulation of time spent with a goal that allows that goal to reach its full potential in our lives, and what seemed pointless at the time eventually becomes life changing not because each time was perfect, but because we persisted and kept going even when it seemed easier to quit.

"The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His treasured possession..." Deuteronomy 7:6 (ESV)