Text: 2 Samuel 18:19-32
Memory verse:
”I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.“
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

While there are many believers who begin the year without having goals to pursue, some others set goals that are selfish and have no kingdom value. Starting the year without setting a goal is to be set for failure. Like the saying, “He who aims at nothing will hit nothing”. On the other hand, setting a goal without God can be compared to a student in an examination who filled his answer script with the topic he loved but which was different from the questions asked! To the student, he would feel happy, especially on the volume of his answers, but to the examiner, he had written out of point.
Some don’t set goals because they believe Christians shouldn’t set goals, basing it on James 4:13-16. On the contrary, God is simply saying here that we shouldn’t plan or set goals without acknowledging Him in all our plans.
Rather than trusting in ourselves, our expertise, or our experience, God wants us to trust Him. ”Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.“ ‭‭(Jam 4‬:‭15‬-‭16‬).
God wants us to set goals for the year. “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty” (Prov 21:5). Paul set a goal.
”I press toward the goal .“ ‭‭(Phil‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬).
Furthermore, as a believer, you must not just set goals. Your goals must not be to please yourself and to feed your flesh. You must prayerfully find out what God wants you to do. God has a plan for every of His children. Your own goals or plans must not oppose God’s plans. This is why you must ask, “What do you want me to do?” Jesus said, “… My will is to do the will of Him who sent me “(John 5:30).
Some believers are like Ahimaaz, who wanted to run and finally ran but without a message, according to our text. Don’t just run but run with a message. Don’t labour and strive through life to find at the end that you have run in vain.
Friends, don’t run through this year like the runner without a message.

Prayer points
1. Father, please, let me never run aimlessly or run outside your purpose for my life, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, please, take me back into your will anytime I mistakenly move out of it, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer points
1. I set Kingdom-minded goals because my goals are inspired by God and committed to Him..
2. I am not a runner without a message because I seek to know what God wants me to do.