RUN LIKE A CHAMPION

Goals and the Big Picture
Today in our devotion time, I want to talk to you about Goals and the Big Picture. For the last few weeks, many days we’ve been talking about our home, our heart, and our health. There are a lot of things in this, and so many times we can got caught up and so focused on one thing that we lose sight of the big picture. What happens with many of us is we never really fulfill the things God wants us to fulfill. It’s because we get so focused on one small thing that we forget the big picture.
I want to bring us back to the big picture in this devotional time and see what it is. God wants to renew your heart, he wants to renew your home, and he wants to renew your health. That means you’re going to need to set some goals. You’re going to need to set goals in each one of those things.
Let me give you an example. When I first started working out and running after I was diagnosed with cancer, I had a goal. My first goal was to run the Greek marathon. I said, “Before I can get to that goal, I have a smaller goal I need to do, and that is I need to run a half marathon. Before I can run the half marathon, I have to be able to run three miles to even begin to start working out.” I set goals for each one of those things, and I set timelines. I started working on each one of those things.
In your heart, in your home, with your health, there are some changes we’ve been talking about. In each one of these areas, what you need to do is for your heart growing in Christ, your personal growth, set some goals you have. Let’s say it’s 30 minutes alone with God each day. Let’s say you’re going to find a place and a time where you start meeting with God. You’re going to add to that time. You’re going to add quality. You’re going to improve the quality.
Well, whatever it might be, set some goals. In your home… Whatever it might be in your home you need to do. Spending time with your wife, with your family, with your children. Praying for your children. Whatever that might be, you set those goals up with your health, whether it’s exercising, nutrition, or rest, some of these things.
List all of those things out. Get them listed out. As you set those goals, begin to pray. “God, help me. I cannot fulfill these goals.” Every time I go to work out, this is one of the things God has taught me, and it’s been so helpful for me. I have goals as I run and certain things I’m doing. Every time I go, I have this feeling, “Oh, I’m not going to be able to do this. I just don’t have it in me today. I can’t do it.”
That’s just where God wants me. I have these goals. I have something to do, but then those goals cause me to say, “God, enable me. Give me the strength.” One of the great promises I claim is from 1 Thessalonians, chapter 5, that says, “Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it.” As you establish those goals to make you more like Christ in your heart, in your home, in your health, then pray and say, “God, you bring it to pass.” He will give you the grace and the strength to do it.