The Ultimate Goal!!!!!

So I get this magazine every few months and the title on the front this time is The ultimate goal. I started reading it and the more I read the more I realized that it was what the Lord had been putting in my heart the last few weeks. I didn't know how I was going to go about blogging about it, because in my head I knew what I was thinking and feeling, but didn't know how to say it just right. My God always comes through for me and I am so glad that he does. This article gave me the angle in which this blog is going to come together.

The Ultimate Goal!
We know what we want, but we don't know why...

Goals give a sense of purpose and value to you efforts

• SMART
• Specific and Stretching- saying I'm going to get an education vs. I'm going to a university and getting a degree in accounting or as simple as I'm going to clean the house vs. I'm going to clean the house today ( that is my problem I always put things off )
• Measurable- How can I know if I'm reaching my goal?
• Attainable and action-based- Is it reasonable for me to want to be a ballroom dancer if I'm not coordinated.
• Relevant- Does the goal even apply to my circumstances or more important my beliefs
• Time-bound- When do I want to reach my goal. Set a time!

You may not have ever seen this but when I was in college we went over this and I never really thought of it again until now, it was in this article and it reminded me how in most major corporations they use this type of system for there employees to set goals. Every year during Shannon's evaluation at work they make him write down his goals for the year. Many businesses do this to see how there employees value there job. Use it in your own life and see how you measure up to what you expect out of your own life.

Solomon was the ultimate goal setter, he understood the power of setting goals way back then. In studying a little bit about Solomon King of Israel I found out that he reigned for 40 years from 970 to 930 B.C. He was only around 20 years old when he started his reign. Solomon left more books than any other writer in the old testament other than Moses. Song of Solomon was written when he was young and romantic, Proverbs was written when he was mature and at the height of his powers, and Ecclesiastes when he had become more aged, and more cynical. His strengths were not on the battlefield, but in the realm of the mind: meditation, planning, negotiation, and organization. The Lord told Solomon in 1 Kings 3:12 (AMP) 12 Behold, I have done as you asked. I have given you a wise, discerning mind, so that no one before you was your equal, nor shall any arise after you equal to you. The Lord told him that he was no one was his equal and no one ever will be after him also. In 1 Kings 4:29-34 (AMP) 29 And God gave Solomon exceptionally much wisdom and understanding, and breadth of mind like the sand of the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the people of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was wiser than all other men—than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. His fame was in all the nations round about. 32 He also originated 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005. 33 He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall; he spoke also of beasts, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish. 34 Men came from all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom. He told him that he was wiser than all other men, men came for all over to hear his wisdom. Wow! Under Solomon's leadership Israel reached its greater geographical extent and enjoyed the least violence of the entire kingdom period. Peaceful- the meaning of his name, describes his reign. I wanted to tell you this so that you would know why Solomon was concerned so wise. I am going do put in some scriptures and then write how they pertain to goals.

• Proverbs 4:23 (AMP) 23 Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. Control and focus your mind and emotions or they will wreck your plans before you start
• Proverbs 4:24 (AMP) 24 Put away from you false and dishonest speech, and willful and contrary talk put far from you.
  To set good goals you must be honest with yourself, with God, & everyone else
• Proverbs 4:25 (AMP) 25 Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you.
  Keep focused on where you're going and how to get there. Goals can only be reached by concentrating on the right plan.
• Proverbs 4:26 (AMP) 26 Consider well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established and ordered aright.
  Think carefully in setting your goals. Then follow through to reach them.
• Proverbs 4:27 (AMP) 27 Turn not aside to the right hand or to the left; remove your foot from evil.
  Don't stray from the right track by following evil impulses and make sure the track is the right one from the start

Goals have built-in power because they are promises we make to ourselves to be and do better.

Write goals down & revisit them often to help you keep on track

Matthew 6:25 (AMP) 25 Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?
We apply many goals in an effort to obtain wealth to get food, drink, clothing, shelter, & entertainment. These goals are the "what" of life not the "why" without the "why" they are fatally flawed in the eternal sense.

Now the Ultimate Goal:

Matthew 6:32 (AMP) 32 For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all.
Matthew 6:33 (AMP) 33 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.
The Kingdom of God is ultimately the glorified family of God. Our Goal is to live by the high standards of that family. So to be in that family is the Ultimate goal, That is why we were born.

Seek first His kingdom!

God Bless!