SET REALISTIC GOALS

Thank God we have seen the New Year. It is the dawn of a new beginning. The opening of a New Chapter.


Exodus: 14:13 says: "And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more for ever."

Dear friend, set goals and make plans for the year.

Planning is a fundamental key to our success. People with goals and plans succeed in life, while people without them fail. People without goals restlessly wander through life looking for what they cannot explain. They are frustrated, confused and filled with anxiety. Unfortunately, they do not understand why Robert Schuller, author and pastor, once said; "If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail."


A Chinese proverb says; "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." I like to put it this way, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step in the right direction." It is only wise that you determine your destination before you set out on a journey. If you don’t know where you are going, it is not likely you will get there.


Let us discuss six reasons why people don’t set goals and make plans:


1. They don’t know how. We can solve this by reading books, asking ‘how’ successful people or simply listen to our broadcasts: radio and television.

2. It is too much trouble. Well, there is always a price to pay for success. It is either you pay now and play later, or you play now and pay later. It is better to make the effort now.

3. They don’t have faith in their goals and plans.

4. They begin with long-range goals. When they don’t see immediate results, they become discouraged

5. They leave the future entirely to God. While it is true that God has absolute control over the future, it is also His nature to plan and He expects us to do the same. Proverbs 16:9 (Living Bible) says; "It is good for us to make plans, counting on God to help us."

6. The rapture. Some don’t set goals because they believe that Christ will come back any moment from now. However, Christ does not expect to meet us waiting idle for His arrival. He expects to meet us busy doing His work on earth.


My Dear friend, take a pen and paper; write down your short-range goals, for the next one-year. Write your mid-range goals for the next five years. Write your long-range goals for ten, twenty or more years.

Let me ask you; have you heard of the Chinese bamboo tree, which is planted, watered and fertilized year in, year out for four years without showing any visible sign of growth? If you were a farmer cultivating the Chinese bamboo tree, would you not be tempted to abandon the plant and consider it a waste of your time and efforts? However, I need to inform you that during the fifth year, the plant suddenly shoots up and grows to 90ft tall just in six weeks!


Above all, begin to do something about all the goals you have written down. God will bring them to pass. This will be your most fulfilling year.


Let this be the most exciting year you ever lived. Release power into your life through goals.


You will succeed!

Sam Adeyemi