"A fire devours before them, and behind them a flame burns; the land is as the garden of Eden BEFORE THEM, and behind them a desolate wilderness;" - The Greatest Love Story Ever Told
What is before you is always greater than what is behind you.
Because you can still dream, plan and alter your future (destiny.)
At any time of your life, you can leave a season in the wilderness (where nothing has grown, made sense or been successful) for a season of conquest, prosperity and redemptive decisions.
You and I were born from a lineage of "giant killers." God can still restore our land/inheritance rights and dreams if we plan for them.
This is our third and final week covering the definition of SMART Goals.
SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
We learned last week that goals must be SPECIFIC AND MEASUREABLE. Goals must also be:
3. Achievable and aligned with values.
Can you accomplish the list this year? Is the goal achievable? Do you have the resources you need to attain the goal?
In Luke 14:28-33, Jesus said, "BUT DON'T BEGIN UNTIL YOU COUNT THE COST. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete ONLY THE FOUNDATION before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, 'There's the person who started that building and couldn't afford to finish it!' "Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? And if he can't, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own."
Some of you have only laid the foundation of that dream or idea and ran out of steam (or resources) before you could finish building it.
Recently, I was going through all my folders for our two corporations reviewing all the things that worked and didn't work; all the things I started, quit, or failed to finish and was astonished at the foundations of dreams that I never built.
COUNT THE COST! Your dream or destiny might require you to give up everything you own or love. Are you willing to do that? Is it important enough for that kind of sacrifice?
Will you give up the cheesecake? Will you give up your bed or television to write more, practice more, study more or prepare more? Are you your best advocate? Are your goals, aligned with values and His will?
Jesus said, "Many are called, but few are chosen." In other words, FEW will do what is necessary to cooperate and fulfill their call.
No one is going to kick you out the bed to pray, exercise or write that chapter; no one is just hand over their company to you. It will not just happen. You must be passionate and develop the right attitude to ensure you achieve your goals. Be ambitious. Refuse to settle for average results.
When your desire to change is stronger than your desire to remain the same, your dream can be changed by a single, radical decision.
The enemy has relied upon our bad habits and indecision long enough.
You have been killing yourself working that dead end job with no purpose, clarity or direction long enough. It's time to make a launch pad out of the platform you have been given by your employer or business. It's time to use the wilderness; that place of temporary confusion as a training ground for war.
4. Relevant, and Rewarding.
Goals need to be relevant and results oriented. DO YOU HAVE AN INSATIABLE NEED FOR RESULTS? Is the goal relevant to your career, business or personal goals? Is it set to reward you? If so, how?
Heb. 11:6 says: "But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out]."
GOD IS A REWARDER.
Goals need to reward you. ASK YOURSELF: WHAT'S THE REWARD IF I DO THAT? HOW WILL ATTAINING THIS GOAL, RADICALLY INSPIRE OR CHANGE MY LIFE? Be honest in the evaluation of yourself. If your goal does not impassion or hasten you to complete it (when you read it), it will die.
That word passion means: "To cause ablaze; to set on fire."
Your dream, life's message and work should cause people's heart to burn within them.
I declare that the place you are in (your job, business, house) is too small for you.
Enlarge your thinking; enlarge your perspective, enlarge your territory, influence or value. Catch the vision of your leader so God can give you your own. Make your hard work, and those dreams and creativity reward you (Pr. 21:5.)
Genesis 8:22 says this: "As long as the earth remains, seedtime and harvest."
There is a specific time for planting "physical" seed; but since the harvest is the Lord's and it is supernatural, IT CAN SPRING FORTH ANYTIME; that means your season can come SUDDENLY if you dare speak to what you have sowed in past seasons.
5. Time-Bound
Goals need to have a time-frame. Is the goal time-bound? What is the time-frame to complete the goal?
Eph. 5:16: "See that ye walk circumspectly," says the Apostle in the preceding verse, "not as fools, but as wise men, redeeming the time."
In other words, saving all the time you can for the best purposes; BUYING UP EVERY FLEETING MOMENT OUT OF THE HANDS OF SIN AND SATAN; OUT OF THE HANDS OF PASSIVITY, SLACK, MEDIOCRITY, SIN AND WORLDLY BUSINESS (because the present "are evil days.")
More than ever is the enemy is trying to steal dreams.
Don't fall asleep. Unwind with that favorite television program, newspaper or magazine, but don't unravel. Don't spend your time or waste your days doing things that don't tangibly contribute to your dream.
Redeem the time.
Make sure to consider the time it will take you to complete your goal by setting a time-frame and timeline to complete the goal. Be wise and give yourself enough time to complete the goal.
Today, I speak to your shattered dreams and declare they will live and build you a storehouse in famine.
DOWNLOAD THE CHAMPIONS SMART DREAM AND GOAL SYSTEM NOW TO GET STARTED.
