Dreams & goals for a reason

I believe that God lays dreams and goals on our hearts for reasons.  The reasons are not always that we will accomplish the goals, but regardless of the outcome we will do things we are meant to do and learn things we are supposed to learn along the way.

It can be hard to reconcile working towards dreams that may seem like selfish pursuits, such as running goals, but I believe that if you can't get something out of your head or off of your heart, there is a reason for it, and that we should use the talents and passions we've been given.

I believe we can work towards our goals for His glory.  That certainly doesn't mean we are perfect and unselfish along the way, but we can try our best and receive forgiveness when we fail to be selfless -- and let's face it, that is probably daily when pursuing big personal goals; it is a hard balance.

Sometimes running feels like a selfish pursuit, and it also seems like if we really were truly doing everything for His glory, we wouldn't pursue hobbies or employment, or really much of the things in our current daily world.  I don't know exactly how to reconcile this, but we are also told we are given gifts and strengths for a reason, and we should refine what we've been given and use the gifts to serve others.  

With goals and everything else, He doesn't always give us what we want; he always gives us what we need.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize." - 1 Corinthians 9:24 

"For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose." - Philippians 2:13

"But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Corinthians 15:57

----------------------------------------

I was honored to be interviewed recently about my goals and dreams by Running Liz for the Minneapolis Running website; you can read the article here.  Liz is not only a talented runner and writer, but also a fantastic musician and one of the kindest people you'll ever meet.

---------------------------------------- 

Finally, happy Thanksgiving Eve and I hope everyone has a blessed holiday.  I don't plan on posting tomorrow, so wanted to share this website with great verses about thankfulness (still excellent even if you're reading this way after Thanksgiving!).

The look of someone focused on a goal!

Couldn't have said it better myself!