Looking Ahead: An Overview

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14)

It’s that time of year when we think about setting goals for the New Year ahead. How to set them and what is involved in that process can sometimes seem overwhelming. When I think about a Biblical example of someone who had some goals in mind, I think of the apostle Paul.

In Philippians 3, Paul first took a look at the reasons he had to put confidence in the flesh and this certainly gives some perspective about Paul’s background: he was circumcised the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. He goes on to say that whatever all of this would profit him, he considered loss for the sake of Christ.

Paul brings this perspective into consideration as he looks ahead, giving a realistic picture of what is involved in setting goals for one's life. In the next four posts we will be exploring four dimensions of goal-setting that will not only help you set the right kinds of goals but also move toward the realization of those goals.

 -         Admit you haven’t arrived

-          Attitude adjustment toward the process

-          Acknowledge that it is a process

-          Advance toward the goal

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