
God-Sized Goals
by Tina Yeager
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails”
(Proverbs 19:21, NIV).
I love making plans. New ideas flood my mind morning and night, each one glittering with apparent potential. Vision casting delights my heart and I relish setting steps toward achievable goals.
At least, it seems like my dream projects should include goals I can achieve. At first. Taking on a job other than writing promised to earn me some income for a change. Or not. Then again, what if I crafted a self-help book from an academic perspective, leaving out the painful and mucky work of personal testimony. Maybe I could start a retail line of incredible products and dabble in wordsmithing later.
Obstacles crush many of my plans early in the process. Discouragement sends me limping away with a reluctance to try again. Few of my “Tina-sized” ideas survive beyond a daydream or two.
I’ve discovered my goals for life, writing, or ministry have no hope of success. I cannot envision anything worthwhile to accomplish. What seems achievable proves worthless or blocked altogether.
I realize my plans have no consequence while God’s purpose bears eternal impact. Unfortunately, my history of failure often triggers fear and reluctance when the Holy Spirit inspires me to write. Since the Lord’s plans never fit within the bounds of goals I could achieve on my own, the challenge intensifies.
If I settle to live for human-sized dreams, my divine potential will perish in a restless and shallow nightmare. But the Lord promises success when he inspires the goal and directs my steps.
My New Year’s goals include pressing through my insecurities and obeying the Lord in faith. I will listen for his plans and take each step as he directs. No matter how impossible his goals seem, God knows my potential and has designed a perfect plan for my future.
Lord Jesus, center my heart on yours. Let your Holy Spirit inspire my dreams, empower me, and sculpt my life to fulfill your perfect plan. Amen.
Award-winning author, speaker, licensed counselor, and life coach, Tina encourages audiences to fulfill their potential. She offers writing workshops through Serious Writer Academy, hosts the Flourish-Meant podcast, and is a mentor with Word Weavers International. Beautiful Warrior, her book on women’s esteem is available on Amazon. To connect with her, visit tinayeager.com.
TINA, thank you for this devotional. I am on the morning of day one of my sabbatical to get away with God and seek out His plan for my writing. Your words reflect my heart and the desire to be in step with His plan, not my own. Great inspiration!
Connie Cobb
Connie, it’s such a blessing to know these words served the Lord’s purpose during your sabbatical! Thanks so much for sharing your heart. May the Holy Spirit guide and renew your soul this week and anoint your writing. Blessings!
Tina, your post wisely points us to God’s plans rather than ours. Your last sentence is encouraging: “No matter how impossible his goals seem, God knows my potential and has designed a perfect plan for my future.” Thank you for this guidance at the beginning of a new year.