To keep the edge, you need to set some personal goals. What kind of a man or woman of God do you want to be? Some Christians say, “Well, I just want to be like Jesus. I just want to have God’s presence all over my life.” Good! Now how does that translate in practical terms?
Set personal goals. Think about what you want to be like in six months, a year, and five years from now. Then make plans to accomplish that. Figure out what it’s going to take to get you there.
Maybe you are in high school right now and you want to be in college in five years. You need to begin asking God to show you where He wants you to go, checking the colleges and universities out, and seeing what they have to offer. Don’t wait until the day you graduate to say, “College? Oh yeah, that’s what I want to do.”
Some of your personal goals can be things like, “I want to read a certain number of books. I want to read through the Bible a certain number of times. I want to spend a certain amount of time praying each day.” They can also be the results you want to have, not just things you want to do. Set your goals in terms of results, then find out the things you need to do to get those results.
Put together a wish list with a very specific and realistic set of goals. “I want to have the compassion of Jesus.” A lot of times we set goals that are way out there like, “I want to fast every Friday for the rest of my life and have an all-night prayer meeting three times a week.” Then we feel bad and hit ourselves over the head when we can’t fulfill them. So set some realistic goals and decide you’re going to do them, whatever it takes.
After setting goals, we often come up with excuses why we can’t fulfill them. Don’t let that hinder you anymore. If you need a new Bible to study, then go buy one. If you need some study tools, such as other books and tapes, go get them. But if you’re going to spend the money on these things, make sure you use them. Don’t buy all this stuff and then let it sit in a closet collecting dust!
Americans are nuts for setting goals, getting the stuff to help them, then not following through. YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE FOLLOW-THROUGH! At the beginning of every year, people make resolutions to exercise, get in shape, and lose weight. They spend tons of money on health spas, fitness clubs, and home exercise equipment.
They think, I’m really committed, because I’m spending this money. For the most part, it lasts a few weeks, or maybe even a few months. But by the time September rolls around, most of the exercise equipment just sits in a room unused.
It’s the same thing when you set spiritual goals. You can have all the Bibles, books, and tapes you can think of, but unless you use them, it won’t do you a bit of good. When you set a goal, set your face like flint, go for the long haul, and make it happen! Then you will keep the edge!
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Ron Luce was the co-founder and president of Teen Mania Ministries from 1986-2015. Ron and his wife Katie dreamed to raise young people who would change the world.
Ron received his bachelor's degree in Psychology and Theology from Oral Roberts University and his master's in Counseling Psychology from the University of Tulsa, along with an honorary doctorate from Jerry Falwell of Liberty University. He is a sought-after speaker who has traveled to more than 60 countries and has made numerous media appearances, such as Dr. James Dobson's Focus on the Family radio broadcast, CNN, The O'Reilly Factor, ABC Nightline, The 700 Club, Trinity Broadcasting Network, and the Sean Hannity Show. Ron has also written 35 books for teens, youth pastors, and parents and continues to speak at leaders' conferences helping parents and pastors understand the plight of today's youth and showing them how all of us can be part of the solution.
Ron and Katie currently live in Garden Valley, Texas, with their son Cameron. They have two daughters, Hannah and Charity.