A Worthy Goal (Pt 3)

"Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach." Nehemiah 2:17

A Biblical Discovery:

I've been reading through my Bible and just finished the book of Nehemiah. If you want to learn and study how to have a worthy goal that you actually accomplish... this is the book for that!

Step #1 (Choose ONLY one Goal):

As I started reading, I noticed that he didn't choose many goals. He didn't say "let's build the wall, the temple, the houses, the city... instead he picked only one goal: the wall. He also didn't make it a vague ambition or idea or dream. It was concentrated determined goal on one task.

"Most of the confusion and indecision found with the majority of people is because they want so many things they don't decide on which to accomplish first. And as a result they often accomplish nothing at all."*
Write your goal down and keep it in your pocket. This will help you remember it and its importance to you. Look at it every day until it's accomplished.

Step #2 (Make it a SPECIFIC Goal): 

Nehemiah was the king's cupbearer. The king noticed he was sad which lead him to send Nehemiah to Jerusalem. The king sent him with supplies and provision for the journey and repair.

"So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon. And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire."  Nehemiah 2:11-12 KJV

Prepare and Define your Goal: Before he asked others to help him repair the wall. He planned and surveyed the damage. This helped him to define the right goal and to make it specific. He studied to see what was most important and turned that into his goal! 

Step #3 (Is it WORTHY?/Stay FOCUSED):

The book of Nehemiah has many examples of trials you face with accomplishing a goal. People made fun of him, mocked and oppressed him. He had threats on his life and his workers. He had people trying to distract him and persuade him to do other things less important. He faced lots of hardship, yet he found strength in God.

"Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands." Nehemiah 6:9 KJV

This goal will take up your time and treasures. You will be challenged by others. You will have distractions and hardship. Is the goal worthy of all that? Is a valuable one? Have you prayed or talked with godly counsels on it? Do you have Bible verses to back it up?

"There is no road to success but through a clear strong purpose, nothing can take its place. A purpose underlies character, culture, position, attainment of every sort."*

Step #4 (An ACCOMPLISHED Goal):

"So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days. And it came to pass that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God." Nehemiah 6:15-16 KJV

FIFTY-TWO days!! He and the people built the wall in fifty-two days. Everyone around was amazed. Yet, because his goal was godly and right... and because he stayed faithful and concentrated on it, God strengthened Nehemiah's hands and rewarded his hard work. Nehemiah accomplished the goal he set out to do.

"Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal"*

* Lead the Field, Earl Nightengale

Be Prepared/Opportunities (Pt. 2)

"Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house." Proverbs 24:27 KJV

Prepare Yourself First:

After having a good attitude, the next thing to do... is preparing ourselves. 

As Christians, we are preparing ourselves for Heaven. (Matt. 25:21, 2 Tim. 2:15)
As single women, we prepare ourselves to be wives and mothers. (Titus 2:4-5)
As moms, we prepare our kids to be independent, capable strong adults. (Deut. 6:7)

I look back with a grateful heart for all the lessons my mom gave me on house cleaning, cooking excellent meals, raising godly children and praying for us. I needed those... they are (now) important and vital to the success of motherhood.

Do you have a dream.... a goal that you want to accomplish? How are you preparing yourself for it? (Excellent Example: 1 Chr. 22)

Read everything you can about it. Talk to godly mature mentors (your Pastor, an older married couple, the CEO of your business/career interests). Study those who have succeeded. LEARN from them. Apply what you have learned. Do those things.

Opportunities:

I laugh every time I think of Christian colleges... It amuses me that many women go there for a "MRS" degree. Why do I laugh? Because I married an amazing Christian godly man..... who has never been to a Christian college (neither have I). I found him at my church where he was faithfully serving God... as was I. :)

We don't need to go looking for "love", "fame", "riches".... for "greener pastures". We just need to stay faithful in that which God has told us to do.

Are you faithful to your Bible reading? Are you faithful to your church? Are you serving God? Wait on the Lord, my friend, and He will give you the "desires of thy heart". (Psalm 37:4)

I worked in a medical supply company that provided special garments. I never dream there I would find out what my true passions are! I discovered that I am a graphic designer, a videographer, a photographer, even a social media manager... an artist of all sorts. In my eyes, I was just being a faithful worker trying to do my job to the best of my abilities...

Be the best worker at your current job (give it your all!) and look for opportunities of growth/development within your company/business! You could end up doing your dream job!! :)

Attitude is a Choice (Pt.1)

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." Proverbs 17:22

Realize FIRST:

God Made You Special. There is NO human being, past or present, with your talents, gifts, and abilites. You are beautiful inside/out. He knows the things you can do... He knows everything about you. He has given you an eternal home in heaven where the streets are paved with GOLD. He loves you unconditionally. You are very talented. You have unique characteristics and gifts. You are valuable... priceless. Don't waste your life by negative thoughts. :D (Phil. 4:8) He can help you succeed.... if you first choose that you want to. (James 4:8a)

A Depressing Book:

Ecclesiates is one of my favorite Bible books. It talks about how everything is vanity (meaning: "futility, meaninglessness, emptiness, nothingness"); even pleasure, great works, riches are all in vain. Here is how the book opens up: "One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever." Ecc. 1:4 Life is full of repeats. When I read this book.... I get lots of negative thoughts. Why should I enjoy anything if all is vanity??

But I Discovered:

"Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun." Ecc. 9:7-9

Six separate times, God tells us in this book to be happy and to even enjoy the work of labor. Every mundane task: the dishes, the laundry, cooking, and even cleaning... God tells us to enjoy it! 

(Ecc. 2:24, 3:13, 3:21-22, 5:18-20, 8:15, 9:7-10)

Success at Any Age:

At 75 years old, my grandma studied English and passed the written citizen exam. My aunt began playing the piano at 45 years old. I just heard about a woman, in her 60s, who swam from Cuba to Florida! 

I realized that it doesn't matter if you are young or of a mature age, you can accomplish anything (especially with God's Help/Strength)! If you have a goal/desire... don't give up. Keep at it. You can Succeed!

"Walter Dale Scott says 'Success or failure in any undertaking is caused more by the mental attitude even than by mental capacities.' "

GOD wants you to LIVE a JOYFUL and HAPPY life! .....Are you?