Do You Set Manageable Goals or Seek Kingdom Goals?

Fitness trackers are a tool to help people in their journey to be healthier. I wear a little device on my wrist called a Fitbit. It looks like a watch but helps keep track of every step taken through the day, tells about my heart rate, sleep patterns and probably many more features I haven't explored yet.

My favorite feature is tracking steps. When the fitbit is set up, it asks you to set a goal for daily steps. 10,000 steps per day is a good, healthy number, so that was my goal. Due to having a few distinct advantages - I love to walk and have short legs, I take many steps, my daily step goal is always met. The step goal is a little low and if you throw in a few long runs, the weekly step average is fabulous! 

A friend introduced me to a fitness app to meet your step goal and I was immediately ready to crush it! But, instead of setting my own goal, this app calculated my average steps and set a daily goal for me, which was waaayyy over the low, manageable goal I had set! Loving a challenge, I 'stepped' head on towards this crazy daily step goal.  Walks were squeezed in, steps taken at every opportunity, I was hardly ever still. This step goal stretched me to a new level of fitness. 

Before the week was over, I became intentional about making every step count. With my low set goals, steps 'just happened'. With higher goals to reach, planning time for walks was implemented as well as conscience efforts to step toward the goal.  Numerous trips around the yard in the evening were made to meet the goal if the days activities were not enough. When that high goal was met, I knew I truly worked towards it.

As Christians, it is easy to go through the 'steps. We can make manageable goals - reading our Bible, prayer, church attendance, helping others and 'do' things in our Christian walk. But low Christian goals don't bring much to our faith life. The Bible talks about Hope and how it is a stretch..."but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?" If our purpose and mission in life is easily attainable, we may simply be walking thorugh life aimlessly. 

A recent sermon preached in our church found in Luke 5, shared of a sick men and his friends who brought him to see Jesus.  Because of their great desire to help their friend, they had a big vision, they made big plans, they tore through the roof in faith that Jesus could heal their friend....and He did! 

Our church was asked... What kingdom dreams do you have? In our prayer life, it is imporant to pray for our daily bread - provision, protection, wisdom. But what about the desires in our heart we long to see, but seem out of reach? What things in your life are you thinking about? And you’re dreaming about that are moving you in such a way that you’re not just living for the moment, but you’re living for eternity? That you’re saying to yourself, God, if this doesn’t happen, I don’t know if I could take another step. What are the things in your life that are welling up inside of you for eternity’s sake that are driving you and pushing you forward?

Jim Cymbala, he pastors a church called Brooklyn Tabernacle. He said, “I despaired at the thought I might let my life slip by without God showing Himself mightily on my behalf.”

When we turn our eyes on the things of the Lord - knowing He has great plans for each of us, we move from our goals, to the goals He has set for us. And as we walk toward those, He meets us, guides us, opens doors for us and shows Himself mighty.