Practical Tips to Achieve Your Goals

Hello everyone,

Trust you are well. Time seems to be flying by so quickly and we are already in the last quarter of 2015.  One of the things that people do towards the end of the year or very early in a new year is to set new goals.   It is possible that we might not be where we expected to be by now in relation to those goals.  In my last post, I talked about forgetting those things that are behind us, identifying those things that stopped us in the first place so we can press on in prayer, word and action to lay hold of what God has in store for us.

As we look forward to next year in anticipation of what God has in store for us, let us make sure that our goals are line with His plans for our lives.  Personally, I believe that pursuing anything that is not in line with His will for my life is a waste of my time and resources.  The bible states in Proverbs 19:21 that "many are the plans in a person's heart; but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails'.  The NLT puts it this way. 'You can make many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail'.

Sometimes you will have your to do list but at the end of the day, you might not have done everything that you planned to do.  For example, on Saturday, I had a list of things that I wanted to achieve for the day.  I got up early to make a start but I ended doing something else.  I remember thinking to myself that what happened to me.  I still saw that it was a fruitful day with my family.  My plans were different at the start of the day but I believe God's plans came to pass.

The bible says that we should commit whatever we do into God’s hands and He will establish your plans (Proverbs 16:3).  Please see below some practical tips to achieve your goals

1. Commit your goals to God, as you do that, He will let you know whether to go ahead with them or not.  Sometimes, He will give you a different strategy to achieving them.  God cares about every detail of our lives so share your goals with Him.  We must learn how to hear from God. As stated in Psalm 37:5, as you commit everything that you do to the Lord, trust in him, he will help you.  Another translation use the word ‘entrust’ instead of commit.
2. Set the goals by writing them down.  Have you written down all your plans and goals for the rest of 2015 and 2016?
3. Identify three habits you need to form to achieve your goals and why you need to form those habits.
4. Identify three actions that you need to take.
5. Have an accountability partner or mentor.
6. Know what has stopped you in the first place and press in prayer, his word and action.  Pray for greater grace to accomplish.
7. Get rid of fear and do it.
8. It’s never too late.

As long as you are alive you have the choice to keep trying until you finally succeed.  I leave you with Proverbs 21:25 - “Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse to work.  This is a reminder that we need to do what it is necessary to achieve our God given goals.  His grace is available for us.

Please see below more information about our coming event in November, we are trusting God for a time of restoration, healing and deliverance.  Hope to see you there.  Have a fruitful October in God's presence where we are safe and enjoy your weekend.

With kind regards,

Dupe Makinde

President, Blossom Network
Director, God’s Grace Foundation
www.blossomnetwork.org
www.godsgracefoundation

Join us for a time of great impact and restoration in God's presence.
Do you feel that you have lost everything because of past mistakes and disappointments?
God will restore as He did for Naomi.
Highlights - Special session for over 50s, Personal Development, Worship, Word & Prayer.
Date: Saturday, November 7th 2015
Time: 11am to 3pm
Venue:  Ground Floor, Royal Sovereign House, Beresford Street, London SE18 6BF
Admission is free.

Moving Forward with Greater Grace

Hello everyone,

Trust you are well and enjoying what is left of the summer break.  This blog is all about sharing my thoughts and I also aim to inspire others with my posts.  I just got back from a week’s break in Nice with my family. We also had the opportunity to visit Monaco, Cannes, Grasse and Antibes.  The South of France is such a beautiful place.  It was really a great family break for us so I am grateful to God for the opportunity.  Nice is a wonderful place to relax and unwind.  On my mind today is about moving forward with grace.

In order for us to move forward, we have to forget things that are behind us so we can press forward to that which is ahead us.  You have to forget your mistakes, successes and regrets. It means learning your lessons and using them as stepping stones to higher things.  So what are the common things that can stop us from pressing on to lay hold of our destinies in Christ.

Fear – this is a common one that affects most people and it can stop us from moving forward.  If you don’t walk by faith, you will not take any step or do anything.  We have to get rid of the fear of failure and rejection.   As women, we are always looking for validation from everyone.  What happens when those close to you will not validate you, will you give up?  You must be prepared to walk with God by faith to fulfil your destiny

If you feel in adequate for your God given assignment, be inspired by the story of Gideon in Judges 6.  As God told him in verse 16, ‘I will be with you’.  He is always with us to accomplish His purposes in our lives.  The Spirit of God will clothe us with power to press into our higher calling in Jesus name.

Unhealthy Association – in order to press into God’s plan for our lives, we have to align ourselves with the right people.  A good example is the story of Samson; this was a man who had a specific call of God on his life even before he was born.  He also had a problem with choosing the right woman.  In Judges Chapter 16, we have an account of how he trusted Delilah with his secret even after she lied to him three times.  One would think that he should have realised that Delilah was not good for him.  If you notice that someone is consistently letting you down or bringing bad things to your life, you need to prayerfully evaluate that relationship and ask God for wisdom before they finally sink you like Delilah did to Samson.

Finally, there is always a time of preparation before your showing to the world.  I am reminded of the story of Joseph who was sold into slavery after God gave him a glimpse of his destiny.  He was hated and suffered great rejection but the One who gave him the dreams brought them to pass.  He had to forgive those who hurt him along the way knowing that God turned around everything for his good.  If you have been hurt by people close to you, you can and must forgive them so you can be healed and move forward.

I believe there is so much ahead of us, so let us move forward and pick up those God-given projects that we might have abandoned.   God wants to press in prayer, in His word and action.  We have to make plans for growth so we can grow and fulfil our potential.   We also need to trust God for greater grace to accomplish and overcome limitations or whatever stopped us in the first place.  I leave with you Philippians 3:13-14:

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”

Shalom,

Dupe Makinde

www.godsgracefoundation.org

www.blossomnetwork.org