GOAL

We all have a list of goals. Whether they are life goals, or goals to get through each year, we set goals so we have something to strive for, to plan for, and ultimately, to celebrate. Making goals is like trying to plan our lives out. Although it sounds like a good idea, in reality, it is pointless. Here's why: God has created us for a specific purpose. Our purpose is our life plan. In making goals we must look at it in the same light. God is our goal. He must be. Why strive for anything else when God is the goal we should be striving for. This is why we can't look at our relationship with God as something that is effortless and something we do not have to work towards. We should not look at it as something we have earned. Because God is our life goal, our relationship with Him is something we must work hard at everyday of our lives. It is taking up our cross daily to choose to follow Him. Everyday we must surrender our lives to God so that we remind ourselves He is the goal and He is the prize. The best part is that it's a goal we will one day get to celebrate... for eternity.

Remember: God is the goal.

In what areas in your life is it difficult to let God be the goal?

HEART

When I recommitted my life to Christ and surrendered all that I am to Him I wasn't sure where to go next. The journey of surrender was its own path that led to my decision to fully surrender. So then, what comes next after getting to the point that we offer our lives to God? We must live as Jesus lived. We must have a heart like Jesus. "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).

After surrendering I did not know that I needed to live as Jesus lived. I guess I just thought life would look different since my goal was different now. Luckily, because God is a powerful God, He used my struggles and challenges to completely break my heart. He did not simply restore the heart I had, but shattered it so that He had to rebuild it. He built my heart with His love and His grace and gave me a heart to serve. What better gift could I have received from my Creator? Just as His son came to serve, I am called to go and serve. I was saved by our mighty God so that I could go and serve His people, my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. How are you living as Jesus lived?

COMMUNITY

I'm starting to get it. The importance of community, that is. The fact that when two or more are together worshipping God, He is present. I get that community does not just mean people in a common area, but that it means accountability, loving in action, encouraging, and walking through life together. So, I'm learning.

The community of leaders I am so blessed to serve alongside of at Grace Fellowship Church is what it is all about. I've searched for community in many ways. I have searched for it in groups of friends, I have searched for it in family and in relationships, and I have even denied the fact that I need it. "I". That is where I had it all wrong. What community will I find on my own? Seek and I will find. Seek God's purpose and His will and He will bless you with a  group of faithful believers to walk through life with you and grow alongside of you. God gives us community, we don't do it for ourselves.

ENDURANCE

I wouldn't, by any means, consider myself a runner. But I run. As in not often, but once in a while. When I was struggling with depression the only thing that could get my mind out of the dark was to run. When I started running my endurance was very low- I started off running only one mile. Over time, with consistent effort and a determination, I began to see my endurance progress. Before I knew it I had reached my goal of running 5 miles. That same week I was able to run 6.5 miles. My endurance had never been so good. I saw something good come out of something bad.

This morning I ran and I realized my endurance was, again, low. I struggled with the 2.6 miles I ran. I have not run in a while and the lack of consistency showed.

As I ran. my inability and struggle reminded me of my faith. I try to see the big picture. I see the mileage, the destination, each stride as one giant course. My job is not to see the big picture. My job is to take each step and push forward. It is not to create my destination but to endure the journey. I am not supposed to know the course I will run, but to trust in God's plan. When I try to see the course and how it maps out I am playing God. He sees the bigger picture, not me. He sees the road map and the destination. I am here for the journey.

My run made me realize that my endurance in my faith is low. Just as I have to work every day at running a little bit further to reach my goal, I must also work in my faith. I must commit to renewing my mind each day to get one step closer to the bigger picture. If all I want is to see the bigger picture then I will miss each stride. Each stride that can represent an opportunity to share my story, to serve in youth ministry, to grow in my faith and make it my own. When my vision is set on the destination I forget to endure the journey. To strengthen my faith's endurance and to work at it every day until the day I reach my end point, until the day I reach my destination. God has a plan, a map for my life, and I have to work every day to let him guide me. I cannot just wake up and run the race. I am not able and I am not ready. Every day is an opportunity to strengthen our endurance, to grow in our faith, and to let God reveal our road map.