Get the Power to Achieve Your Goals

We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it. (Proverbs 16:9 Msg)

We can set goals and plan the way we want to live, and that's commendable. However, it is only the Lord who gives us the power and ability to do it.

The Lord, in His mercy, provides us with three main things to reach our goals and thereby bring transformation.

#1:You need God's Spirit to empower you.
God will never place you into a position or ask you to accomplish a task for which He has not fully equipped you and enabled you. This enabling and equipping is not based on willpower, but it is based on God's power.

For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfil your purpose] for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13 Amplified)

It's not based on trying. It's based on trust. "'You will not succeed by your own strength or by your own power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord (Zechariah 4:6 NCV). So every day while in prayer, you must ask the Holy Spirit to come and empower you.

#2.You need God's Word to guide you.
The Bible is the manual for life. The more you read it, study it, memorize it, and meditate on it, the more successful and fulfilled you're going to be in life.

When Joshua was given the task of taking God's people into the Promised Land - a task which was definitely not easy.

God spoke these words to him, saying: "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then, you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."(Joshua 1:8)

#3.You need God's people to support you.
You will not be able to reach your goals on your own. It takes a team to fulfil a dream!

A crowd can't support you, but a small group can. The 5000 fans on Facebook will not be around when you need them the most.

The people in your small J-12 group can be a good source of support when you need them the most. (Now, please understand that sometimes not all people are the way we want them to be. There will always be some odd-balls)

Still, I would prefer to do what the Bible says: "By yourself, you're unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped" (Ecclesiastes 4:12 Msg)

(If you are currently not under a J-12 leader, then you could send us a message on Noah Chat.)

When obstacles arise in the path to reaching your goals, don't change your decision to get there; rather, put the above three-point plan into action.

Father, Your grace is sufficient for me, Your power is made perfect in my weakness. I will be strong and courageous, for the Lord my God goes with me. He will not leave me nor forsake me. In Jesus' name. Amen.