It is good for a soccer team to play hard. Great when they play smart. Mesmerizing when we behold the tapestry or symphony of Spain’s national soccer Team’s “tiki-taka” – “a nonsensical phrase that has come to describe the three Ps – (short) passing, patience, and possession”. But what has made this team to be ranked number one in FIFA ( Federation of International Football Association) world rankings, and what made them win their last three major tournaments: the 2008 UEFA Euro Cup, the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and the 2012 UEFA Euro Cup is not the “tiki-taka”. It is scoring goals. They could have played all the “tiki-taka” they knew how, without making goals, they would not be winning games. Winning in life’s journey is not too dissimilar. Setting goals sets you up for the trophy because on the way to reaching your goal, regardless of whether you do, you are inevitably scoring winning goals. Please read on.
1. GOAL-SETTING IS A COMMANDMENT
Corporation s sets goals, particularly production and fiscal goals so that they can maximize their performance and profit. Athletes set goals so that they can become the best : Kobe Bryant’s off-season workout has been called the 666 program because he spends 2 hours running, 2 hours on basketball, and 2 hours weightlifting (for a total of 6 hours a day, 6 times a week, six months a year). No wonder he is already being celebrated as a basketball legend. The bible says Jesus Christ came “in the fullness of time”, namely, at the time appointed. God hi/mself set that goal. He is a goal-setter and he commands us to be. The bible says we should write the vision down ( the revelation, the plans, the goals) and make it plain. Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippian Christians:
” I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal, but I continue trying to reach it and to make it mine. Christ wants me to do that, which is the reason he made me his. 13 Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not yet reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to the life above.
Those who set goals in life live purposefully. They have a destination. They know where they are going. They have goals. They are not living by neglect and ceding their lives to others to run. They are in charge, adjusting and responding to life’s vicissitudes not reacting, knee-jerking and drifting through life. They identify and determine what is important in life and they plan “scoring” goals as they propel their lives in that direction. A goal-less life is a direction-less life and a direction-less life is a purpose-less life. Take charge of your life and start setting goals.
2. GOALS ARE YOUR FAITH MANIFESTO
Politicians unveil their manifesto to announce their promises to their constituents regardless of whether they are able to keep them or not. At least they are expressing their desire and hope that the promises will be kept. At wedding ceremonies, couples exchange vows expressing statements of faith and fidelity to each other. My wife and I founded the International Christian Center in our small apartment in 1999. We set a goal that we would move to one of the best Hotels in town within six months. God honored it and moved us to the Hilton and Towers Hotel within the time frame. Again we set a goal that that we would move into our own owned facility within one year. God honored it and we bought a prime property in a prime location within the time frame. Five years later, we set another goal and believed God to move us to a bigger multi-purpose facility. He did. He never fails. But without setting those goals, without making those statements of faith and praying them through, I am not sure we would be where we are today. When you set a goal, you are simply saying that I trust God’s word to give me the desire of my heart which is to achieve or attain to so and so by so and so period in my life. That is faith and because faith honors God, God in honors faith. Jesus told those he healed that it should be unto them according to their faith. So start making big and fantastic statements of faith. God can handle them. He says open your mouth wide and I will fill it. Read ephesians 3:20 and it will “wow” you:
Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams].
Think about that! Superabundantly, far over and above all that you dare ask or think!! Infinitely beyond your highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, and dreams!!! So what are you waiting for? Start dreaming big and putting deadlines on those dreams turning them to goals.
Goal-setting is not only a commandment from God, goals are also your faith manifesto which God will honor if they are godly.
( To Be Continued )
***This article was first published in Life & Times in April 2014
Oladipo Kalejaiye holds a Ph.D degree in law and was a litigation attorney in Nigeria, Europe and the United States for over 17 years. He entered into full time ministry in year 2000, and currently serves as the pastor of International Christian Center, Los Angeles ( You can contact him on the web: www.iccla.com, Facebook: iccla/facebook, Twitter: @DipoKalejaiye)
