Create A Goal

Create a Goal

Parents who pray for their children to grow into healthy, caring, and responsible adults should have a series of goals for each of the steps that will get those children to that destination. Students with the ultimate goal or purpose of having a successful career in a chosen field should follow a similar process. Athletes who dream of participating in the Olympics should choose the best path for getting there. We could say the same for any person in any walk of life. Purpose refers to the ultimate destination. Goals are the hoped-for results for each of the segments on that journey.

In the following passage in 1 Corinthians, Paul used two athletic metaphors—running and boxing—to highlight the necessity of living with purpose. Paul wasn’t running just to run, but to get somewhere. He wasn’t boxing against the air, but to defeat an opponent. Remembering his purpose and setting his goals helped him discipline himself to train the right way. In this case, Paul wanted to make sure he was living what he preached. Paul’s ultimate goal was to glorify God, taking every thought, word, and action captive to the lordship of Christ. So he ran “with purpose in every step.”

I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:26-27)

The Runner

Jerome (his friends call him “Romer”) is as laid back as they come. He takes life one day, one moment at a time and tends to live totally in the present. That approach has served him well in many cases—he’s spontaneous, fun, and creative, and people love his enthusiasm—but it has also held him back in a few areas, especially when he has been expected to meet a deadline at work.

Romer ran track in high school and college—mostly middle distances—so he continued to run after graduation because he liked the feeling before and after his workouts. When Christian friends, guys in his small-group Bible study, asked him to join their team in a marathon and raise money for cancer research in the process, he quickly agreed. As an experienced athlete, Romer knew he would have to train hard to accomplish that goal . . . and he did . . . and they did.

At the next Bible study, one of the guys asked what everyone had learned from their marathon experience. A lot was shared, but one lesson hit Jerome as a friend read 1 Corinthians 9:26 and highlighted, “I run with purpose in every step.” His friend then explained how training, discipline, and goals relate to living for Christ and said he had determined to consider his spiritual goals so he could run that race with purpose too. Jerome decided right then to take what he had learned in training for the marathon and apply it to his faith. He’s still good old Romer, up for fun and adventure, but he’s now intentional in his spiritual life.

The Race

Anyone who wants to complete a marathon but has no workout plan, including daily goals, will fail. A person can put on the shorts, shirt, socks, and shoes, leave the house, and then just start running, but he or she will probably soon be exhausted and lost. Running with purpose means knowing where you want to go and then developing a plan for getting there.

Paul did not run the race aimlessly, nor was he like someone boxing against air. He ran with purpose, not allowing himself to be lazy or sidetracked. First Corinthians 9:26-27 describes the spiritual maturation process, the period of growth during believers’ lives on earth when they are living in the world while not being of it. The time between a person’s trusting Christ as Savior—spiritual birth—and his or her physical death is the only time when spiritual growth can occur. Paul wanted to grow diligently and receive a reward from Christ at his return. Paul did not want to be like the person who builds his or her life with shoddy materials, only to be saved “like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames” (1 Corinthians 3:15).

The Result

What’s your spiritual purpose? What do you sense God saying should be your ultimate goal? To be a mature believer, knowing what you believe and living it out? To be a faithful follower of Jesus? After you determine his answer, decide what you need to do to achieve that goal. You may need to spend more time in Bible study and prayer or join a small group or go on a short-term mission trip or help with worship. After determining your goal, you can solidify your plan and get going, running “with purpose in every step.”

My Story

After giving birth to my third child, I decided to make a change in my life because I wanted to lose some weight. And we’re not talking about a little weight: I wanted to lose sixty pounds. I hadn’t exercised at all during my pregnancy and was really out of shape, so how would I ever make this happen?

I belonged to a health club and enjoyed aerobics, but I couldn’t put my baby into the club’s child-care center until she was six months old. Years earlier, I had gotten somewhat into running. I didn’t enjoy it then, but I liked the feeling at the end of my run, and I enjoyed being outside. So I decided running was the only way for me to get moving and lose the weight.

I know my personality and that I need motivation and someone to push me. That’s one thing I’ve enjoyed about aerobics classes--having an instructor who will encourage me and hold me accountable. If I were really going to run regularly, I would need a goal. A big one. A half-marathon race was being held nearby in a few months . . . could I do it?

I called my sister, a runner, to find out if it was even possible to train in three months to run 13.1 miles. She created a training plan, and three months later the two of us crossed the finish line together.

I met my goal of the half marathon, and you know what else? I got in shape and lost weight--my purpose for running.

Kara

Think It Through

1. What’s the farthest you’ve run? What’s the longest race you’ve entered?

2. What did you have to do to reach your running goal for that race?

3. What’s your biggest spiritual challenge right now?

4. What steps do you need to take to meet that challenge?

On Running

How do I set goals?

First of all, consider your ultimate purpose, because reaching your goals should help you achieve that purpose. Next, assess your abilities and needs. Be realistic, but make sure that you don’t underestimate yourself. Where do you need the most help with running? Is it motivation? Do you want to run faster? Do you want your legs to be less tired? Be sure to set goals in a variety of areas. Don’t just focus on distance, but look at intensity and mind frame. Then identify the factors that will affect your goals: time, commitment, and abilities. Finally, develop a realistic plan that will help you to reach your goals.