DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT - THURSDAY: "Achieving Our Goals in Christ"#4

Every moment of life is granted us for one purpose: becoming like our dear Lord. That ultimate, all-embracing end is reached through a multitude of nearer and intermediate ones. - Alexander MacLaren.

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"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. - Mat 6:19-20. (ESV)

As we continue our series on how to Achieve Our Goals in Christ, we are reminded that these principles will provide us with a basic guideline, which will give us direction and inspiration, for achieving our goals in Christ. I do not know what your goals are, but I am using these principles to see my goals achieved in Christ, and the next one’s are...

Choose Our Friends Wisely
We need to be very careful about the kind of people we allow to become our friends. Our friends should be those who inspire us and bring out the best in us...Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. - Prov 13:20. We become like the people we associate with! Let’s choose our friends wisely! It’s better to be on our own than to be with the wrong friends.

It is tough to be alone, it's much better to have friends who are Godly, and who support each other in times of difficulty, they can help each other along the way with Christ, and if one is in trouble, the other lifts them out of it... Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! - Eccl 4:9 – 10.

Amateurs teach amateurs to be amateurs. If we want success we must decide to choose our friends wisely, and we must associate with those who are going to positively influence our lives and stand faithfully with us in the times of battle.

When Jan Paderewski was to leave his native Poland to play his first recital in London, he asked an influential compatriot to give him a letter of introduction to a leading figure in Britain's musical world, who might be of assistance should anything go amiss. The letter was handed to him in a sealed envelope. He hoped that everything would proceed smoothly and he would not have to use it.

He did not; his debut was a success and no snags developed. Some years later, while going through his papers, he came upon the letter and opened it. It read: "This will introduce Jan Paderewski, who plays the piano, for which he demonstrates no conspicuous talent." - Bits & Pieces.

Let us take a moment and look at our friends, are they helping us to serve Christ in greater ways, or do they weaken our walk with Him?

Be Willing To Change!
When we quit growing and changing in Christ, we have already made the decision to change. This is true in every area of our lives. There are three things we should know about the future:

1)It is not going to be like the past.
2) It is not going to be exactly the way we think it’s going to be.
3) The rate of change will be faster than we can imagine.

If we are truly seeking God in Achieving our Goals, we will be able to know in advance and make the necessary adjustments to adapt to the changes... Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them." - Isa 42:9.

The clerk of Abbington Presbytery, outside of Philadelphia, approximately 100 years ago gave these 5 kinds of attitudes about change:

1. Early innovators (2.6%), run with new ideas.
2. Early adaptors (13.4%), influenced by (1) but not initiators.
3. Slow Majority (34%), the herd-followers.
4. Reluctant Majority (34%).
5. Antagonistic (16%), they will never change.

The majority of ministers are being nibbled at by the last group. They focus on the minority opinion. This group is basically carnal. You expect antagonism from them. - Howard Hendricks.

When change is successful we look back at it and call it growth! Always be prepared to change. If we are not changing then we are not preparing for the future

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit to achieve my goals in Christ, remembering that you are a powerful God. Help me Lord to choose my friends wisely and in consultation with you. Help me Lord to be open to change, and to be prepared to change. In Jesus wonderful name! Amen!