Goals and His Power at Work
Did you have big goals this year? Whether your goals were for business, for health, for your
spiritual life, for relationships, I'm sure there were things you wanted to do better, and areas of
life you wanted to improve or see progress in this year.
I set about 25 different goals early in January, and my stats of them are interesting. Some would
say right off the bat that 25 is too many goals. But the coaching program I was in recommended
putting them all down with the understanding that some would prove to be serious, some I
might make progress on, and still others would turn out to be "fake" goals... something maybe I
thought I ought to do, but it wasn't really a high priority on my list. And sure enough, that's
how it turned out for me.
Of the 25, seven goals were absolute wins. I accomplished what I set out to do and more! One
of those was to start this podcast! And now we're up to episode 17 which means over 4 months
of consistent content which I pray has been as beneficial to you as preparing them has been to
me! It's my favorite accomplishment of the year. Another was to walk 1100 miles this year. As
of today, I have walked just shy of 1000 miles, with another 7 weeks to go to get to 1100. So
that one will be a win, too. I've also reached my goal of reading 40 books (I count audible, too),
and I'll probably end up closer to 50 books by December 31st. Another definite win!
Seven of my goals were fakers. Reach this sales milestone or earn a particular accolade. I just
didn't care enough to do them! Three of my goals were not fakers, but I didn't finish them. I did
make progress, though, so I can be proud of moving in the right direction in those areas. I lost a
few lbs, and I wrote 4 chapters on my book, and I didn't read the Bible through this year, but I
did get all the way through Leviticus! That in itself is a tiny win! And these will be things I'll
continue to work on, I think.
8 goals were fails. Lots of reasons. Some were too big. Some were unquantifiable. Some just
didn't get the attention they needed. A health goal was to train myself to sleep 7-8 hours each
night. Nope. It's already after midnight as I record this, so No progress on that one. Another
was to save a certain amount of money. Didn't happen. All of these failures were things I
wanted to do, but for whatever reason, I didn't get anywhere with them. Either the timing
wasn't right, or there were skills I needed to develop, or I didn't break them down into smaller
goals that would give me wins and encouragement to continue.
I don't know about you, but I'm already looking at goals for the coming new year! I'm taking a
totally different approach to my goal-setting this time. My Sunday School class has been
studying the book of James, and while I'd read it many times before, the end of chapter 4 struck
me differently this time. Listen to what James says in 4:13-15:
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there,
carry on business and make money." 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.
What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you
ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."
It occurred to me that in my years in business and in pursuit of all kinds of goals, I've never
once asked if it is the Lord's will. I just assumed He wants what I want! Making money for my
family is a good thing, right? Surely, getting healthy is an act of worship. He must want that for
me. And I have always given Him glory when I achieved things, so absolutely, He wants the
same kind of success that I want, right?
In verse 16, James calls that attitude "arrogant" and "evil." Wow!
So, for the last several weeks, I've been praying and preparing to see what goal setting from
God's perspective looks like. And not just goal setting. The whole of my business! No more lip
service to "God as my business partner." I have heard that phrase for so many years, never
really sensing that it revealed what was truly happening behind the curtain. Do we who've said
that really spend time praying? Listening? Hearing God speak that this is the way to go, and the
goal to pursue? This is the way to do business His way? What does that look like? How is Jesus
revealed to others as we walk and work in a worldly business system that is not God-centered?
As I've wrestled with these questions over the past several weeks, three truths will affect my
goals and my business for the coming new year.
1) WHO is First.
Who is God to me? Is He LORD? Throughout Scripture, He reminds us that He is a jealous
God. Jealous FOR us. He wants what is best for us, and to see us living and working just as He
perfectly designed us. When Jesus tells us, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His
righteousness, and all these things"-the success, beauty, provision, and even treasures in
Heaven mentioned previously in Matthew 6- "will be given to you as well", He is prescribing
an order of life and business, a way that elevates Him from partner to the One in charge. Of all
of it. Everything. He is the first Who of it all.
Also, Who I am-my identity in Christ-is God's roadmap for my Kingdom impact. We talk a
lot about "gifting." But our who is so much more than our sweet spots. As I've meditated on
Who God is and how He created me, I've revisited memories from childhood where my identity
was affirmed and I can see the patterns, how working in my identity as "Wordsmith Exhorter"
brought challenges, and success, and blessings, sometimes financial and sometimes other ways,
and when I strayed from who I am or faked it, difficulties and frustration and hindrance was the
result.
And, Who has God created me to serve? You know who it isn't? Me. For all the "me
generation" hype, serving myself is an endless exercise in futility. I am never satisfied. But
when I lose my life, as Jesus put it, I gain it. All those things, Success, Satisfaction, Impact.
More, come to me when I serve.
2) 1 is who is first. 2 is Prayer is Paramount.
I confess that "prayer warrior" is not who I am. I am not-at least I haven't been up to this
point in my life-the woman God has awoken in the night to wrestle with Him in prayer, to
contend in the heavenlies and on my knees for God's work in the world. But I am commanded
to pray. Paul took it further, even, to say, "pray without ceasing."
Jesus told his disciples to ask, seek, and knock. And that part of praying most of us have down.
I think, though, that better questions of Him might yield better answers. "What do you want me
to do?" "Will it work, Lord?" "How do You want it done?" These might be more effective
than, "Bless this, Lord" or "Help me be successful in this thing I've planned."
Besides the asking, seeking, and knocking, I think we forget about the Listening part. How does
God speak? I hear Him in my heart and mind. I often dismiss Him as my own voice, especially
when His answer is not what I want to hear. Or He asks me to do something outside my comfort
zone.
Or how about follow-up questions... "Father, I'm hearing this recurring thought about what You
want to do in the coming year. How shall I do it? What is the first step of obedience You
require?" It's amazing how often when I sit still and wait, He answers. I'll have a step come to
mind, or a person to contact, or an outline or a picture or a scripture that confirms what He said.
When I don't take the time to pray and listen, I am usually operating in my own strength, and I
fail.
3) 1-Who is first, 2-Prayer is paramount, and 3) Community is Required.
Jesus chose to operate in Community. It is in community that our identities function to the glory
of God. How can I be a Wordsmith Exhorter without people to encourage, teach, or write for?
How can you do YOU outside of community? Whether you are a Salewoman/Prophet, or a
Recruiting Leader, or an Administrator, or Servant/Teacher, or Merciful Warrior, God designed
us to function together. And to grow together. "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens
another," says Proverbs 27:17. Jesus said, "Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth
agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where
two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:19-20.
And Solomon wrote, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no
one to help them up. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10.
In community, we have each other to glean and learn from. In community, we have
accountability. In community, we have agreement for our God-assigned goals, His presence
with us, and support for one another as we reap a good return for our labor.
These three truths-Who is first, Prayer is paramount, and Community is Required-that God
has been speaking to me have also taken me to Ephesians 3:14-21. We know the "immeasurably
more than we can ask or imagine" part. Listen to the rest of it...
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth
derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with
power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your
hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have
power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and
deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may
be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do
immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work
within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for
ever and ever! Amen.
Notice the phrase "...according to his power that is at work within us..." One goal I believe God
has given me for the new year is to lead a Mastermind experience for women who want to see
God do incredible things in their lives and businesses. The name of our mastermind is His
Power at Work.
And I want to begin in the next few weeks.
This accountability mastermind experience looks at ways we can live out the life of Christ as
we launch/work/succeed in our business. It will be God-aligned and centered, prayer-powered,
and in-community.
His Power at Work Mastermind Experience will begin with a FREE 70-minute introductory
session looking at Christ's power at work in our businesses, and setting goals for the next 90
days, six months, and a year or more in the future. We'll create GRITTE-that's G-R-I-T-T-
E-goals that will take you to the next level as God leads.
About two weeks before our session, you'll receive a guide that outlines scripture, gives you
questions to ponder and pray over, and exercises to complete with the aim of hearing from God
what HIS agenda is for your life and business as you set your goals.
When we meet together online, we'll spend 20-30 minutes sharing insights and challenges from
the scripture(s), 30-40 minutes TaPing (Talking and Praying) out the application, and the last 10
minutes identifying next steps.
If you choose to continue with His Power at Work, the next six sessions will look at client
acquisitions/lead generation, branding, building your platform, God's view of time, income, and
so on. For the next 90 days, expect to see your business transformed into one with a deeper
understanding of the love and mission of Christ Jesus, more impact, more peace, and yes, I
believe more income.
Will you join me in this experience? For more details, and to sign up for the free session, go to
talkandpray.us/mastermind. I cannot wait to get started, to see how we spur one another on, and
how God deepens our understanding of Him and each other. I can't wait to see His Power at
Work!
That's talkandpray.us/mastermind
The deadline to register for this round of His Power at Work is December 15th. After that, you
can be added to a waiting list for the next round (dates of which will be determines by interest).
Father,
Well, my dear Heavenly Father. I've launched it in obedience to You. I heard Your voice, and I
believe You are doing something unique and wonderful in this project. I don't know exactly
what You have planned, but I know it will be good. As I pray, I ask... Will this work? How will
it? I'm trusting Your providence, your provision, your promises, that You who have begun a
work will finish it. I ask You to speak clearly to the women who will be a part of His Power at
Work, and that everything they receive through this mastermind will benefit them spiritually,
physically, and financially.
You've taken me to new things this year, new understandings, and a closer walk with You.
Thank you, Lord, thank you so much. For every success, every failure, every reminder that You
are first. I have set You always before me, and with you at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Give me more of You in the coming year! In Jesus' name, Amen.
