Here's a question posted as a message to my facebook account (mikeqdaniel), followed by my reply. Send your questions regarding the grace life, life choices, or pretty much anything else to my facebook account or via email to mike@StoneLife.org.
Hey Mike I asked a couple of [pastors/teachers] this questions and well neither one really answered it. I struggle with setting my goals because of the whole thing Jesus said about money... I have prayed for direction and His will in my life, business... but here I am at the beginning of the year and am not sure of my goals. ...Any suggestions?
Sincerely,
Aimlessly Driven?
Dear Driven...
Are you speaking specifically of financial goals?
Praying for direction and His will for you is a little different than many think! Isn't He leading? Isn't He capable of bringing about His will for you? Isn't He wanting to bring about His will? Seems people often pray for God's will, but what they mean is "Give me the map so I can take control." ...which of course is exactly the opposit of God's will for us.
Here's a suggestion:
Pray about goals you know God is working on in your life. What might He encourage you to do to build more intimacy and more trust? Where do you know He is wanting to see you understand more of His Truth? What areas of your flesh has He revealed that you could grow in discipline and trust?
It's critical to remember that your goals, your zeal, your discipline, your knowledge, etc. earn nothing from God - He's working in a grace-based economy with you. But your willingness to see areas of potential growth, to see where your identity is based on your effort or abilities or others' affirmation or anything else besides His love and acceptance of you... and your willingness to release - even practice releasing - those areas of self-determination, self-sufficiency, self-promotion, or self-focus out of your trust of Him... these kinds of efforts challenge your flesh, invite His revelation, and drive your roots more deeply into Christ as your Source. What would these goals - practicing dependence, availability, and trust while building intimacy, self-sacrifice, and focus on Christ - look like in your life and circumstances?
Maybe 2011 is less about the goals you will accomplish than the relationship He wants to build.
Maybe this year is less about your improvement than His manifestation.
My Friend, maybe God wants you to set goals and implement discipline to heighten your focus on Christ while diminishing your self-consciousness altogether.
Maybe this year really does see you ALLOW Him to transform you into a more Christ-centric, dependent, abiding, peacefull, grace-filled expression of Jesus.
Maybe you should ask Him?
...and have a great time doing it!
ridiculously graced...
-mike.
Praying for direction and His will for you is a little different than many think! Isn't He leading? Isn't He capable of bringing about His will for you? Isn't He wanting to bring about His will? Seems people often pray for God's will, but what they mean is "Give me the map so I can take control." ...which of course is exactly the opposit of God's will for us.
Here's a suggestion:
Pray about goals you know God is working on in your life. What might He encourage you to do to build more intimacy and more trust? Where do you know He is wanting to see you understand more of His Truth? What areas of your flesh has He revealed that you could grow in discipline and trust?
It's critical to remember that your goals, your zeal, your discipline, your knowledge, etc. earn nothing from God - He's working in a grace-based economy with you. But your willingness to see areas of potential growth, to see where your identity is based on your effort or abilities or others' affirmation or anything else besides His love and acceptance of you... and your willingness to release - even practice releasing - those areas of self-determination, self-sufficiency, self-promotion, or self-focus out of your trust of Him... these kinds of efforts challenge your flesh, invite His revelation, and drive your roots more deeply into Christ as your Source. What would these goals - practicing dependence, availability, and trust while building intimacy, self-sacrifice, and focus on Christ - look like in your life and circumstances?
Maybe 2011 is less about the goals you will accomplish than the relationship He wants to build.
Maybe this year is less about your improvement than His manifestation.
My Friend, maybe God wants you to set goals and implement discipline to heighten your focus on Christ while diminishing your self-consciousness altogether.
Maybe this year really does see you ALLOW Him to transform you into a more Christ-centric, dependent, abiding, peacefull, grace-filled expression of Jesus.
Maybe you should ask Him?
...and have a great time doing it!
ridiculously graced...
-mike.
