Goals Gone Wild - The Battlefield of the Mind - Day 12

It's that time of year again...time for my annual review...time to see how the past year went.

Every year we set some goals for achievement...and they just get kind of lost throughout the year...for a variety of reasons. I know this year that an opportunity came along unforeseen that put some of those things on the back burner.  Flexibility can be a good thing.

I found an article that makes some good points. I totally LOVED the title: Goals Gone Wild...

Basically...if viewed in a Christian context...goals (good, wholesome, moral) can be part of the arsenal the enemy uses in the battlefield of the mind. How?

1. Goals that are too specific, create a narrow focus, that we are not looking at any other issues going on in our lives that aren't related to our goal. If I am so focused on my ambition with writing or photography, but fail to see some negligence in the areas of Christian fellowship or my marriage, than I have failed some priorities God has declared to be in my life.

2. Goals that have a specific quota within a certain timeframe can either be too high or too low. Too high and unrealistic, I can become discouraged and the work becomes unsustainable. Too low and I can miss potential that God has given me. (There was a great example of a study in 1997 where cabs in New York City tended to disappear early on rainy days because people did not want to walk in the rain, so the drivers met their quotas early and went home.)

3. Goals that are highly-specific and ambitious can result in risky practices. Early in my social work career, I worked in an arena where billable hour productivity had to be attained to remain an employee. Even if you went on vacation for a week, you had to meet that week's productivity goal...so you actually had to be ahead of your goal to get a break. As a result, there was a temptation to provide only what you could bill for, as opposed to a holistic, best-practice approach, that really was in conflict with doing what is best for your client.

4. A major pitfall of ambitious goals is unethical, sinful behavior to meet them. This is the greatest issue. How many Christian leaders or those in ministry have good and purposeful goals, only to fall and fail others, because their goal became their focus instead of God's plan and purpose?

Do you know the Bible speaks on this, as well?

Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and

 will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 

How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? 

Your life is like the morning fog—

it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. 

What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, 

we will live and do this or that.” 

Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans...for all boasting is sin.

- James 4:13-16 (NLT)

So...do not let your plans become a ploy the enemy can use to get your focus of God's ultimate goal for us: to do His will and be totally dependent on Him.

(Oh...and my review is April 4...I'll let you know how it goes...)