Goals and Dreams

By Gene Markland

As I reflect on the past year, and years gone by, the goals I had set for myself come to mind. I looked in my notebook where I had written down my goals and made a startling discovery. Every goal I had set out to accomplish in my life up to this point, I had achieved.

Immediately I thought, "I should have made bigger goals!" It is truly amazing what one can accomplish by just writing it down.

Over the years I've probably read most every motivational Author, listened to tapes, etc. and they make success sound so easy. Well, I figured out that if enough people buy your motivational books and tapes, success is assured! Good for them.

Now this brings us to this year. What shall we do? I submit that we should turn to the pages of the greatest motivational book ever assembled. You probably already own more than one. Yes, it's the Bible.

This year as I set out to crystallize my goals my prayer is, "I shall write according to your will Lord." His words come to mind, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you ... plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).

God, the Author and creator of all that exists, has plans for us! Wow, what a thought! Of all the plans I've read, not one can compare with the plan that God has. We know this on a spiritual level, so why do we fail to flesh it out and bring it into the natural? I guess I'm as guilty as the next fellow, but not this year.

No. I will seek His plan for my year and walk it out to the best of my ability. God doesn't see things like we do. Unlike us, He sees things perfectly, and has given to us His wisdom through the ages, recorded in the Bible. So our first goal should be to immerse ourselves in the Bible, God's wisdom of the ages. That's easy, right?

Sure it is. We can all do that. And if that is the one thing we do this year, I believe that it will be an amazing year. One man wrote that he read the entire book of Proverbs every month and became a millionaire! Wow, that'll make you want to blow the dust off the old book won't it? Ha. Yes it will.

This brings us to dreams. Have we forgotten how to dream? Have your dreams been crushed and squeezed out of you? It happens. But, that is the beauty of dreams. They are limitless! You can always have more. Do you know that God is the greatest dreamer of all? Yes He is. Before He created everything He dreamed it!

Once while I was praying in the Spirit with the Lord Jesus, He told me to dream. He said, "Remember when you were a boy and you would look at the sky and dream?"

"Yes Lord," I replied.

He asked, "Do you remember what you dreamed?"

"I believed I dreamed of having great adventures, of sailing the ocean, or flying airplanes in battle. Those things," I said.

"Well, do it again." He said.

So I spent time in fun light-hearted dreams. The Lord opened my mind to the joy of dreaming. Sometimes dreams come true, but while you are dreaming, they are true. This is just one of many gifts our Holy Father has given us. It's beautiful. It's in His nature to dream, and He has so many wonderful dreams for all of His children. He really does.

The Bible says, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth" (III John 1:2 KJV).

So seek Him in prayer, as you walk in the Spirit. Search Him in His word, the Bible. He will reveal to you His plans, His desires, and His dreams for you. He will! Then as you write out your goals and dreams for the New Year, you will know deep down in your heart, that this year, this time…All things are possible!

Happy New Year!