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As volitional beings, we are free to choose both the goals we pursue and the behaviors that pursue those goals. Reflect on the relationship between chosen goals and chosen behaviors. Make sure you express a clear understanding of each.
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When we pursue goals that are based on our self-centered demand for satisfaction, our strategy will be likewise self-centered and without God. When our goal is to know God, enjoy God and be a part of His plan, our strategy will be Holy Spirit lead, and pleasing to God.
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I choose to retire early just at the beginning of this year from a very well paid job. This is my desire that since I am still pretty healthy and I can contribute back to community. This decision surprised a lot of people including my family. They perceive me as an active person with lots to offer and capacity to work. Though I am thrill for their comments, I know this is also my commitment to God. I felt a bit restless as areas that I thought I would volunteer for I heard nothing back. In the meantime, various one off opportunities I had served at church and oversea, thanks to technology. I am gently reminded by God to wait on Him, I have to take time to examine myself, my motives and get to the bottom of things before moving forward. I am so grateful for landing on the Soul Care course. It has helped me a lot.
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I choose a goal based on what I perceive will ultimately give me the satisfaction I desire. Once I have chosen a goal, I am going to choose to behave in ways that I believe will enable me to get what I want. If they are selfish goals then I will behave in selfish ways to achieve them. If the goal is a successful career with recognition, I may choose to work too much, ignore my wife and kids too much and get angry whenever anything starts frustrating that goal. If my goal is a wife who will make me feel good about myself. I may behave in selfish ways trying to manipulate her into pleasing me.
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If, when I am choosing my goals, I don’t keep the fact that I am an image-bearer of God at the forefront of my mind, I will choose a lesser goal over my most crucial goal, which is knowing, enjoying, and glorifying God. When this happens I will also choose strategies that are not in line with God’s design, as well. If my goal, for example, is to be a famous actress and popular in the world to feed my insecurities that I am valued, My behavior or strategies to reach that goal will be as corrupt as the goal in the first place. To reach this lesser goal, I may succumb to behaviors that would compromise my integrity, such as using my body to gain a role.
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When we chose a goal, either very evident to us or not as evident, we need to perform specific action steps to reach those goals. If we chose lesser goals than the God-given need to pursue him, we will chose actions that we think will meet our needs, but will be disappointed with the results as that may meet the perceived need but not the actual need to love Him and others well.