The Prayer Circle Leader

Corporate prayer, Prayer tools and prayer points, how to pray effectively ,pray the Word, prayer resources

Posts Tagged goals

Goals :Take the Time to Write Yours. It’s Not Too Late. (L. Fegins)

Jan 9

Posted by Linda Fegins in Goals | No Comments

Isaiah 32:8 says, “The noble man makes noble plans.”

Proverbs 16:3 promises, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”

Can you believe we are looking at the year 2020? We are embarking upon a whole new decade! Have you taken the time to write your goals for the New Year? Have you taken the time to write down the goals and steps you will take to achieve them? We do not want to have any regrets about not accomplishing our goals for this 2020. You may not have written your goals earlier, but it is not too late for “mapping out your goals for 2020”.Start now and follow the practical suggestions at the end of the article.

What are your goals and what actions will you take to achieve your goals in the New Year? So I am asking you and I am challenging myself too, write your goals. I challenge you to write at least what three goals (but strive to write all of them as much as possible) you will set for this year and what actions will you take to achieve them.

“Goals are a must for any person who desires to accomplish something great. Planning is a part of the process of truly successful people, states Ministry marketing pioneer, social media strategist and PR Coach Pam Perry. “Creating goals is valuable for it helps one’s mind to focus upon the attaining of the thing desired until the goal is realized”, Pam explains. Accordingly a set of goals can motivate you to persist in the fulfillment of your dreams.

What are goals? Simply put, goals are the stepping stones to reach a destination which you desire to fulfill. They serve as the plan, the how to, the path you need to walk, day by day, to the realization of that dream.

A goal is a target, the desired end of our efforts. Paul talks about pressing toward the mark in Philippians 3:14. Having a goal doesn’t always mean hitting the target —but it does mean getting closer than you would have if you hadn’t had a goal at all. Someone once said, “It is better to aim for a star and hit a mountain than to aim for a mud puddle and hit it every time.” See Cynthia Bezek, “What are Your Spiritual Goals? July|Aug 2000 issue Pray! Magazine.

The Bible encourages us to write our goals. Isaiah 32:8 says, “The noble man makes noble plans.” Proverbs 16:3 promises, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” We should have dreams and set goals to reach the dreams, but remember that God holds the authority to say “yea” or “nay”-veto power: “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails”. (Proverbs 19:2)

Goals can be spiritual, financial, personal, and career oriented. I encourage you to break them into categories if you can. A spiritual goal can be spiritual such as your desire to develop, improve, and seek an intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in prayer and study of His Word. God wants a relationship with you. We should press, stretch and get out of our comfort zones to maintain a prayer relationship with Him. It is the goal that will have eternal benefits. It is the goal that will give us power, wisdom and guidance about all of our other goals such as improving family relationships, getting out of debt, starting that business, writing that book, starting an exercise plan or healing relationship issues. Prayer is the key to unlocking God’s power in your life to carry out what God has placed in your heart.

Accordingly, goals can be broken up into categories such as spiritual, financial, personal relationships, health and business. We should remember to pray about our goals. I must remember, that while I plan, I know my future rests with the One who holds the master plan, so I , each of us, must always start and end with Jesus.

There is still time, forget about what you have not done so far. Take the time to seek God’s face first, pray, meditate on the Word. Listen to what He states to you and write it down. If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time!” Begin right now praying and thinking about writing your goals for the year. Take the time to seek God’s face first, pray, and meditate on the Word. Listen to what He states to you and write it down. I find this helps me to accomplish the things that are important to me. Sir Isaac Newton, wrote, “All of my discoveries have been made in answer to prayer.”

Again my challenge to each of us is to take time to pray and write at least three goals you would like to accomplish this year. Dr. Deana Murphy, an award winning author and expert on life design wrote: “The key to writing goals is prayer. He gives us the desires of our heart—which are His desires. This is so important”. Indeed, “prayer is the key that opens the storehouse of God’s infinite grace and power”. R. A. Torrey

Some practical suggestions for setting your goals are as follows:

  1. Get a journal to write the goals in or a loose leaf notebook and divide the note book under the relevant categories. As Habakkuk 2: 1-4 records, we should “write the vision and make it plain…” so that “…he may run who reads it.” You should then list your goals under specific goal categories such as spiritual goals, educational goals, business/career goals, financial goals and personal goals or other focus areas pertinent to you.
  2. Freelance writer, online columnist and former stay at home mom for 15 years, Patricia Chadwick, suggests that you get away by yourself for a day in order to really think about the goals you want to set for you and your family without any distractions. Alternatively, establish 2 or 3 hour sessions until you complete your assignment if you are unable to do this for a day. Turn off the phone and television. Do not go on the Internet –especially Facebook. To set her goals she uses a loose-leaf notebook with a yearly calendar in it and breaks the notebook into 12 categories.
  3. Prayer warrior and writer, Cynthia Bezek, in the article “Plan to Grow” suggests that once your goals have emerged, consider each goal and find as many verses as you can to support that goal. Use the concordance to look up key words. Write relevant passages into your notebook. This process helped her to internalize what the Lord was teaching her.
  4. Write down promises you may need to rely on and “eat” them in order for God to accomplish each goal in your life.
  5. Write down specific action items you must undertake to accomplish your goal in a manner that will help you to measure your progress. Make the steps to the attaining of the goal as practical as possible.
  6. Make your goals S.M.A.R.T. — Specific (not just lose weight, but instead “lose 35 pounds”); Measurable (How will you know when the goal has been accomplished by how much or how many?); Attainable (Goal too out of reach may not be completed. 20lbs a week vs 4 lbs a week for the first two weeks ); Realistic (“never eat chocolate again” — , but better to say limit it to one day a week!); and Timely (set a date – If no date there is no commitment).
  7. Take immediate action. Master procrastination. Once your goals are set, begin to implement them right away. Do not wait on a feeling to get going. The feelings will come more and more, as you reach one goal after another. So don’t wait on a feeling. Start NOW!!
  8. Throughout the year review the goals notebook to see how you’re doing. Make a note of the goals upon which you need to revise or begin work on. If you‘ve accomplished a goal, then check it off.
  9. God is sovereignly in control of our future. He enables us by grace to pray about and pursue goals that agree with His perceived will for our lives. He has the ultimate say in our destiny. ( See James 4:13-17). God has the final say about our destiny and we must be prepared for God to make changes in our plans. His sovereignty is no excuse for our failure to step out in faith to write the vision and to take action to implement the vision He give us, or to procrastinate or to remain stagnant out of fear.

Linda Fegins, The Prayer Leader, formerly served as Prayer Coordinator for over 13 years for the Lydia Circle of Christian Business and Professional Women. She is the former Prayer Leader for over 10 years of the Intercessory Prayer Ministry at her church. She prays with and has served as an intercessor/prayer trainer with Global Missions Prayer Force , a global prayer minstry.Further, she has served as part of the volunteer team for Girlfriends Pray Ministries, an international women’s prayer ministry . She can be reached by email at LDFaygo@gmail.com and her blog address is , https://ladyofprayer.com copyright December 24 2013, January 2020.

Tags: Cynthia Bezek, Dr Deana Murphy, goals, new year, Pam Perry, procrastination, spiritual goals

Tags: , , ,

Put A Deadline on Your Dreams

Jan 12

Posted by Linda Fegins in Goals, Inspiration | No Comments

 

Its 2017! Have you taken the time to write your goals for the New Year? What is your vision  for this year. Have your visualized them and , wrote them down and gathered a picture that  represents what you want to manifest in your life. Turn your dream into a specific goal. Put a deadline on your dreams and do them.

Have you taken the time to write down the goals and steps you will take to achieve them? We do not want to have any “would’ a, should ‘a”, and could have regrets about not accomplishing our goals for this 2017 which represents overcoming and a year of victory. You may not have written your goals earlier, but it is not too late for “mapping out your goals for 2017”. You need to be specific and set a deadline to accomplish your goal

I am challenging you, myself too, to make that vision board and write your goals. I challenge you to write at least what three goals with a set deadline (but strive to write all of them as much as possible) you will set for this year and what actions will you take to achieve them.

“Goals are a must for any person who desires to accomplish something great. Planning is a part of the process of truly successful people.” Pam Perry. Creating goals is valuable for it helps one’s mind to focus upon the attaining of the thing desired until the goal is realized.

And it is well worth it to begin the New Year right. Goals can motivate and “catapult you in the direction of the attainment of fulfilling your dreams” Pam Perry.

What are goals? Simply put, goals are the stepping stones to reach a destination which you desire to fulfill. They serve as the plan, the how to, the path you need to walk, day by day, to the realization of that dream.

A goal is a target, the desired end of our efforts..

The Bible encourages us to write our goals. Isaiah 32:8 says, “The noble man makes noble plans.” Proverbs 16:3 promises, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” We should have dreams and set goals to reach the dreams, but remember that God holds the authority to say “yea” or “nay”-veto power: “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails”. (Proverbs 19:2)

Goals can be spiritual such as your desire to develop, improve, and seek an intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in prayer and study of His Word. God wants a relationship with you. We should press, stretch and get out of our comfort zones to maintain a prayer relationship with Him. It is the goal that will have eternal benefits. It is the goal that will give us power, wisdom and guidance about all of our other goals such as improving family relationships, getting out of debt, starting that business, writing that book, starting an exercise plan or healing relationship issues. Prayer is the key to unlocking God’s power in your life to carry out what God has placed in your heart.

Accordingly, goals can be broken up into categories such as spiritual, financial, personal relationships, health and business. We should remember to pray about our goals. I must remember, that while I plan, I know my future rests with the One who holds the master plan, so I , each of us, must always start and end with Jesus.

There is still time, forget about what you have not done so far. Begin right now praying and thinking about writing your goals for the year. Take the time to seek God’s face first, pray, and meditate on the Word. Listen to what He states to you and write it down. I find this helps me to accomplish the things that are important to me. Sir Isaac Newton, wrote, “All of my discoveries have been made in answer to prayer.”

Again my challenge to each of us is to take time to pray and write at least three goals you would like to accomplish this year. Dr. Deana Murphy, an award winning author and expert on life design wrote: “The key to writing goals is prayer. He gives us the desires of our heart—which are His desires. This is so important”. Indeed, “prayer is the key that opens the storehouse of God’s infinite grace and power”. R. A. Torrey

Some practical suggestions for setting your goals are as follows:

  1. Get a journal to write the goals in or a loose leaf notebook and divide the note book under the relevant categories. As Habakkuk 2: 1-4 records, we should “write the vision and make it plain…” so that “…he may run who reads it.” You should then list your goals under specific goal categories such as spiritual goals, educational goals, business/career goals, financial goals and personal goals or other focus areas pertinent to you.
  2. Freelance writer, online columnist and former stay at home mom for 15 years, Patricia Chadwick, suggests that you get away by yourself for a day in order to really think about the goals you want to set for you and your family without any distractions. Alternatively, establish 2 or 3 hour sessions until you complete your assignment if you are unable to do this for a day. Turn off the phone and television. Do not go on the Internet –especially Facebook. To set her goals she uses a loose-leaf notebook with a yearly calendar in it and breaks the notebook into 12 categories.
  3. Prayer warrior and writer, Cynthia Bezek, in the article “Plan to Grow” suggests that once your goals have emerged, consider each goal and find as many verses as you can to support that goal. Use the concordance to look up key words. Write relevant passages into your notebook. This process helped her to internalize what the Lord was teaching her.
  4. Write down promises you may need to rely on and “eat” them in order for God to accomplish each goal in your life.
  5. Write down specific action items you must undertake to accomplish your goal in a manner that will help you to measure your progress. Make the steps to the attaining of the goal as practical as possible.

Part II will be next week

Linda Fegins, The Prayer Leader, formerly served as Prayer Coordinator for over 13 years for the Lydia Circle of Christian Business and Professional Women, is a member of the Church Prayer Leaders Network and leader of the Intercessory Prayer Ministry at her church. Further, she serves as part of the volunteer team for Girlfriends Pray Ministries, an international women’s prayer ministry and as an intercessor/trainer with Global Missions Prayer Force, a global prayer ministry. She can be reached by email at LDFaygo@aol.com and her blog address is , https://ladyofprayer.com copyright 2013,2017

Tags: , , ,

Guide Me to Who You Want Me to Help Day 28

Mar 7

Posted by Linda Fegins in 40 Day War Room Prayer Journey | No Comments

 

pray and feet 4303c1266ae233d3969c6eded5e5356cDAY 28 – March 8th – Guide Me to Who You Want Me to Help

Scriptures:   John 13:34–35; Galatians 5:13

 

Miss Clara prayed and asked God to, “Guide me to who You want me to help.”

 

Her hurts and past lessons gave her a testimony and teaching strategy to share with others so that they did not have to go through the pain she had suffered. Write down lessons God has taught you through past experiences. Write down your testimony and always be ready to share it with others. Ask God to guide you to someone He wants you to help. Write down a name as He shows you opportunity to share His love.*

 

Pray for clarity so that you do not hesitate nor manipulate the situation. Ask for wisdom. Remember Miss Clara’s profound prayer, “Lord, do not let me push too hard; I know I have a big mouth!” Write down a prayer for a specific area where you already know you will need God’s hand to move as you reach out to the one He guides you to help. Remember that He may guide you to someone who is not at all like you had hoped or imagined. Be obedient no matter who He leads you to (John 13:34–35).*(Kathy Branzell)

 

Pray:

  • Pray for the church and yourself to learn to serve as Christ did and demonstrate love.
  • Pray that the believers serve our community in ways that will soften the hearts of unbelievers to the gospel of love, grace and truth.
  • Pray that unbelievers would receive your service as a demonstration of Christ’s love for them, leading many to salvation.
  • Pray that our service would be a holy demonstration of Christ’s love, not self-serving in any way.
  • Pray for business people. Pray that they operate honestly and to frustrate any practice that creates injustice. Pray that you will grow in the knowledge of God’s Word for every aspect of your life.

 Linda Fegins , The Prayer Leader 3/7/2016

 powerpoint_layouts_strategy_goals_and_targets_ppt_theme_1

DAY 29 –March 9th – Goals-Track Progress

Scriptures:   Psalm 138; Habakkuk 2:2

 

Every strategy includes “keeping score.” This is not keeping a score of rights and wrongs between you and another person, or even the wrong theology that if our right behavior outweighs our sin.*

 

In business, employees/employers write goals that are measurable and timely targets. This is often called a scorecard, which acts as an instrument panel guiding your people and company toward achieving your vision. With the scorecard, you can actively track your progress on a monthly basis.*

 

One of the best ways to see God’s faithfulness is to keep a record of our answered prayers. Miss Clara had framed a list of “Answered Prayers” on her hallway wall. As you ask God to move or meet a need, write it down on a list or keep a journal. Make written notes when you see God’s hand moving, circumstances changing, and, finally, when the prayer is answered (Psalm 138).* *(Kathy Branzell)

 

 

Pray:

  • Pray that you would grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord.
  • Thank the Lord for His grace and for the gifts He has bestowed upon you.
  • Pray that you and members of the church demonstrate graciousness in your attitude, speech and actions.
  • Pray that our city will be transformed as we cry in humble and faith-filled intercession.
  • Pray for every member of the body to understand their place and purpose in the body and to work together in proper relationship with each other under the leadership of the Pastor.                          

Linda Fegins, The Prayer Leader 3/7/2016

 

 

Tags: , , ,

Goals :Dreams with Deadlines-Write Them. (L. Fegins)

Dec 24

Posted by Linda Fegins in Goals, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

goals lester brownimages

“Embark upon no enterprise you cannot submit to the test of prayer”. Anonymous

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” ~ Corrie Ten Boom

Isaiah 32:8 says, “The noble man makes noble plans.”

Proverbs 16:3 promises, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”

“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 mark (goal) for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”. Philippians 3:13-14

goal setingsimages

Can you believe we are looking at the year 2014? Have you taken the time to write your goals for the New Year? Have you taken the time to write down the goals and steps you will take to achieve them? We do not want to have any “would’ a, should ‘a”, and could have regrets about not accomplishing our goals for this 2014. You may not have written your goals earlier, but it is not too late for “mapping out your goals for 2014”.

What are your goals and what actions will you take to achieve your goals in the New Year? So I am asking you and I am challenging myself too, write your goals. I challenge you to write at least what three goals (but strive to write all of them as much as possible) you will set for this year and what actions will you take to achieve them.

“Goals are a must for any person who desires to accomplish something great. Planning is a part of the process of truly successful people.” Pam Perry. Creating goals is valuable for it helps one’s mind to focus upon the attaining of the thing desired until the goal is realized.

And it is well worth it to begin the New Year right, before the New Year arrives, with a set of goals which can motivate and “catapult you in the direction of the attainment of fulfilling your dreams” Pam Perry.

What are goals? Simply put, goals are the stepping stones to reach a destination which you desire to fulfill. They serve as the plan, the how to, the path you need to walk, day by day, to the realization of that dream.

A goal is a target, the desired end of our efforts. Paul talks about pressing toward the mark in Philippians 3:14. Having a goal doesn’t always mean hitting the target —but it does mean getting closer than you would have if you hadn’t had a goal at all. Someone once said, “It is better to aim for a star and hit a mountain than to aim for a mud puddle and hit it every time.” See Cynthia Bezek, “What are Your Spiritual Goals? July|Aug 2000 issue Pray! Magazine.

The Bible encourages us to write our goals. Isaiah 32:8 says, “The noble man makes noble plans.” Proverbs 16:3 promises, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” We should have dreams and set goals to reach the dreams, but remember that God holds the authority to say “yea” or “nay”-veto power: “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails”. (Proverbs 19:2)

Goals can be spiritual such as your desire to develop, improve, and seek an intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in prayer and study of His Word. God wants a relationship with you. We should press, stretch and get out of our comfort zones to maintain a prayer relationship with Him. It is the goal that will have eternal benefits. It is the goal that will give us power, wisdom and guidance about all of our other goals such as improving family relationships, getting out of debt, starting that business, writing that book, starting an exercise plan or healing relationship issues. Prayer is the key to unlocking God’s power in your life to carry out what God has placed in your heart.

Accordingly, goals can be broken up into categories such as spiritual, financial, personal relationships, health and business. We should remember to pray about our goals. I must remember, that while I plan, I know my future rests with the One who holds the master plan, so I , each of us, must always start and end with Jesus.

There is still time, forget about what you have not done so far. Read the last quote at the beginning of this article. Take the time to seek God’s face first, pray, meditate on the Word. Listen to what He states to you and write it down. If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time!” Begin right now praying and thinking about writing your goals for the year. Take the time to seek God’s face first, pray, and meditate on the Word. Listen to what He states to you and write it down. I find this helps me to accomplish the things that are important to me. Sir Isaac Newton, wrote, “All of my discoveries have been made in answer to prayer.”

Again my challenge to each of us is to take time to pray and write at least three goals you would like to accomplish this year. Dr. Deana Murphy, an award winning author and expert on life design wrote: “The key to writing goals is prayer. He gives us the desires of our heart—which are His desires. This is so important”. Indeed, “prayer is the key that opens the storehouse of God’s infinite grace and power”. R. A. Torrey

Some practical suggestions for setting your goals are as follows:

1. Get a journal to write the goals in or a loose leaf notebook and divide the note book under the relevant categories. As Habakkuk 2: 1-4 records, we should “write the vision and make it plain…” so that “…he may run who reads it.” You should then list your goals under specific goal categories such as spiritual goals, educational goals, business/career goals, financial goals and personal goals or other focus areas pertinent to you.

2. Freelance writer, online columnist and former stay at home mom for 15 years, Patricia Chadwick, suggests that you get away by yourself for a day in order to really think about the goals you want to set for you and your family without any distractions. Alternatively, establish 2 or 3 hour sessions until you complete your assignment if you are unable to do this for a day. Turn off the phone and television. Do not go on the Internet –especially Facebook. To set her goals she uses a loose-leaf notebook with a yearly calendar in it and breaks the notebook into 12 categories.

3. Prayer warrior and writer, Cynthia Bezek, in the article “Plan to Grow” suggests that once your goals have emerged, consider each goal and find as many verses as you can to support that goal. Use the concordance to look up key words. Write relevant passages into your notebook. This process helped her to internalize what the Lord was teaching her.

4. Write down promises you may need to rely on and “eat” them in order for God to accomplish each goal in your life.

5. Write down specific action items you must undertake to accomplish your goal in a manner that will help you to measure your progress. Make the steps to the attaining of the goal as practical as possible.

goal planindex

6. Make your goals S.M.A.R.T. — Specific (not just lose weight, but instead “lose 35 pounds”); Measurable (How will you know when the goal has been accomplished by how much or how many?); Attainable (Goal too out of reach may not be completed. 20lbs a week vs 4 lbs a week for the first two weeks ); Realistic (“never eat chocolate again” — , but better to say limit it to one day a week!); and Timely (set a date – If no date there is no commitment).

Goal-Quotes-31

7. Take immediate action. Master procrastination. Once your goals are set, begin to implement them right away. Do not wait on a feeling to get going. The feelings will come more and more, as you reach one goal after another. So don’t wait on a feeling. Start NOW!!

8. Throughout the year review the goals notebook to see how you’re doing. Make a note of the goals upon which you need to revise or begin work on. If you‘ve accomplished a goal, then check it off.

9. God is sovereignly in control of our future. He enables us by grace to pray about and pursue goals that agree with His perceived will for our lives. He has the ultimate say in our destiny. ( See James 4:13-17). God has the final say about our destiny and we must be prepared for God to make changes in our plans. His sovereignty is no excuse for our failure to step out in faith to write the vision and to take action to implement the vision He give us, or to procrastinate or to remain stagnant out of fear.

Linda Fegins, The Prayer Leader, formerly served as Prayer Coordinator for over 13 years for the Lydia Circle of Christian Business and Professional Women, is a member of the Church Prayer Leaders Network and leader of the Intercessory Prayer Ministry at her church. Further, she serves as part of the volunteer team for Girlfriends Pray Ministries, an international women’s prayer ministry and as an intercessor/trainer with Global Missions Prayer Force, a global prayer ministry. She can be reached by email at LDFaygo@aol.com and her blog address is , https://ladyofprayer.com copyright December 24 2013

Tags: , , , , ,

Seek God for Answers to Your Goals and Plans . He is able.

Jan 7

Posted by Linda Fegins in Goals | No Comments

Praise God for His unfamthonable love for you. Thank the Lord that He is able to do exceeding above all that we think or ask as we move forward in 2013. He is able. Thank God that He is a prayer answering God. He has the answers for you, your family, your career, your goals , you finances, your business and the world. Call on Him. Seek His face first. Matthew 6:33. Pray without ceasing. 1 Thess 5:17. Ask. He invites you to. ” For everyone who ask receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened”. Matthew 7:8. Believe. Matthew 21:22. Listen. Meditate. Joshua 1:8 . Do what He tells you to do.

Challenge:

1. Sit down after you have prayed. Now write down your goals, dreams and desires. Hab 2:2-3. You must write the vision and make it plain.

Goals can concern your spiritual growth, your family, your career, your business, personal goals ie weight loss, exercise, financial goals. Write your 30 day goals , your 6 month goals, your year goals and life time goals. Make sure they are specific, measurable, acheivable, and put a deadline date to achieve them. https://ladyofprayer.com/?p=374

A goal is a target, the desired end of our efforts. Paul talks about pressing toward the mark in Philippians 3:14. Having a goal doesn’t always mean hitting the target —but it does mean getting closer than you would have if you hadn’t had a goal at all. Someone once said, “It is better to aim for a star and hit a mountain than to aim for a mud puddle and hit it every time.” See Cynthia Bezek, “What are Your Spiritual Goals? July|Aug 2000 issue Pray! Magazine. The Bible encourages us to write our goals. Isaiah 32:8 says, “The noble man makes noble plans.” Proverbs 16:3 promises, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” We should have dreams and set goals to reach the dreams, but remember that God holds the authority to say “yea” or “nay”-veto power: “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails”. (Proverbs 19:2)

2. Pray over them. Find scripture that supports your goals. Write the scripture down . Meditate on them. review them weekly or daily in necessary.

3. This week seek the Lord for an action plan as to how to achieve them. You need to write down the steps you will take to achieve them.

Linda Fegins, The Prayer Leader

Tags: ,

“Let’s Get Started: Take the Time to Pray and Write Your Goals”- Part III

Mar 17

Posted by Linda Fegins in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

As a result of Part I and Part II (https://ladyofprayer.com/?p=364) of “Let’s Get Started: Take the Time to Pray and Write Your Goals”, are you ready to get started? Have you prayed and sought the Lord about what goals He would direct you to achieve? Have you thought specifically about what you would like to accomplish over the next year and the action steps you will take to achieve your goals. As a prerequisite, this endeavor must begin with God in prayer, fasting, and meditation. Many people immediately jump to temporal concerns, such as getting out of debt, starting a business or losing weight. However, I suggest that the first goals you write should involve spiritual goals such as strengthening your personal prayer life or spending time in study of the Word or memorizing more scripture. You should then list your goals under specific goal categories such as spiritual goals, educational goals, business/career goals, financial goals and personal goals or other focus areas pertinent to you. Some practical suggestions for setting your goals are as follows:

1. Get a journal to write the goals in or a loose leaf notebook and divide the note book under the relevant categories. As Habakkuk 2: 1-4 records, we should “write the vision and make it plain…” so that “…he may run who reads it.”

2. Freelance writer, online columnist and former stay at home mom for 15 years, Patricia Chadwick, suggests that you get away by yourself for a day in order to really think about the goals you want to set for you and your family without any distractions. Alternatively, establish 2 or 3 hour sessions until you complete your assignment if you are unable to do this for a day. Turn off the phone and television. Do not go on the Internet –especially Facebook. To set her goals she uses a loose-leaf notebook with a yearly calendar in it and breaks the notebook into 12 categories.

3. Prayer warrior and writer, Cynthia Bezek, in the article “Plan to Grow” suggests that once your goals have emerged, consider each goal and find as many verses as you can to support that goal. Use the concordance to look up key words. Write relevant passages into your notebook. This process helped her to internalize what the Lord was teaching her.

4. Write down promises you may need to rely on and “eat” them in order for God to accomplish each goal in your life.

5. Write down specific action items you must undertake to accomplish your goal in a manner that will help you to measure your progress.

6. Make your goals S.M.A.R.T. — Specific (not just lose weight, but instead “lose 35 pounds”); Measurable (How will you know when the goal has been accomplished by how much or how many?); Attainable (Goal too out of reach may not be completed. 20lbs a week vs 4 lbs a week for the first two weeks ); Realistic (“never eat chocolate again” — , but better to say limit it to one day a week!); and Timely (set a date – If no date there is no commitment).

7. Throughout the year review the goal notebook to see how you’re doing. Make a note of the goals upon which you need to revise or begin work on. If you‘ve accomplished a goal, then check it off.

8. God is sovereignly in control of our future. He enables us by grace to pray about and pursue goals that agree with His perceived will for our lives. He has the ultimate say in our destiny. ( See James 4:13-17). God has the final say about our destiny and we must be prepared for God to make changes in our plans. His sovereignty is no excuse for our failure to step out in faith to write the vision and to take action to implement the vision He give us, or to procrastinate or to remain stagnant out of fear.

Remember to Make Your Goals S.M.A.R.T.

We must be clear about what, where, when and how we will achieve our goals. A useful acronym to apply to assist in setting effective goals and objectives is S.M.A.R.T.

The S in S.M.A.R.T. stands for Specific. Answer the 6 W’s – Who, What, Where, When, Which (identify requirements and constraints) and Why. Do not set the goal to broad. Be able to break it down to small achievable parts in a specific time period.

The M in S.M.A.R.T. stands for Measurable. What concrete criteria can we employ to measure our progress? It is important that the l goal be measurable. If the goal is not measurable then it will be hard to know if you have achieved it and you may give up because you do not know if you are making progress. Answer the questions —How much? How many? How will I know I have accomplished it.?

The A in S.M.A.R.T. stands for Attainable or Achievable. We must make an effective action plan. Begin to figure out ways to accomplish your goal. You goals should stretch you and cause you to grow and expand to reach them, but not be too lofty, although we know we can do all things with the help of the Lord. Goals need to be reasonable and achievable. For example, losing 15 pounds in 30 days is unrealistic (unless you’re planning a medical procedure). Losing six to eight pounds in 30 days is reasonable. Don’t set yourself up for failure by setting goals that are out of reach.

The R in S.M.A.R.T. stands for Realistic. It means the goal is “do-able” and that the skills are available to get the job done. Therefore, you are both willing and able to work to achieve the goal. A goal can be both high and realistic. Do you have the ability and commitment to make your dream come true? Or does it need a little adjustment?

The T in S.M.A.R.T. stands for Time. We must set specific time deadlines that allow a realistic and reasonable amount of time to accomplish each goal.

Everyone will benefit from goals and objectives if they are SMART.
Let’s declare that even if you did not start at the end of last year 2010 or the first of this year to write your goals, you are getting started today. Not another year of saying “shoulda-coulda-woulda” for the great things that should have been achieved, by me or by you. Let’s get started.

Linda Fegins,
The Prayer Leader,
Former Prayer Director and Coordintor for Lydia Cirlce for Christian Buisness and Professional Women, LDFaygo@aol.com

Tags: , , , , , ,

“Let’s Get Started: Take the Time to Pray and Write Your Goals”- Part II

Mar 3

Posted by Linda Fegins in Uncategorized | No Comments

He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.” – Colossians 4:12b

Isaiah 32:8 says, “The noble man makes noble plans.”

Proverbs 16:3 promises, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”

In response to my challenge in Part I of this article (https://ladyofprayer.com/?p=364) to each of us to take time to pray and write at least three goals you would like to accomplish this year, Dr. Deana Murphy, an award winning author and expert on life design wrote: “Amen Linda. The key to writing goals is prayer. He gives us the desires of our heart—which are His desires. This is so important. Thank you for sharing.” Indeed, “prayer is the key that opens the storehouse of God’s infinite grace and power”. R. A. Torrey.

Have you taken the time to pray, meditate and to map out at least three goals and the action steps you will take to achieve that goal? Now, if you haven’t written your goals for this year or have not taken any steps to achieve them, forget the past. Begin right now praying and thinking about writing your goals for the year. Take the time to seek God’s face first, pray, and meditate on the Word. Listen to what He states to you and write it down. I find this helps me to accomplish the things that are important to me. Sir Isaac Newton, wrote, “All of my discoveries have been made in answer to prayer.”

Some of your goals could be educational, financial, or involve career and business goals such as to write that book or to start a new business. However, first focus on what spiritual goals you would like to achieve which will strengthen your personal relationship with the Lord. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things (temporal things, that is) will be added to you” (Matthew. 6:33). Setting spiritual goals can help you keep moving toward maturity. Accordingly, some spiritual goals you may have is to read the through the bible in one year, work on a particular character trait, or read a certain Christian book.

One key spiritual goal should be to improve your personal relationship with the Lord through bible study and improving your prayer life. God wants a relationship with us/you. We should press, stretch and get out of our comfort zones to maintain a prayer relationship with Him. It is the goal that will have eternal benefits. It is the goal that will give us power, wisdom and guidance about all of our other goals such as improving family relationships, getting out of debt, starting that business, writing that book, starting an exercise plan, or healing the relationships issues between black women and men. Prayer is the key to unlocking God’s power in your life to carry out what God has placed in our hearts.

Possibly you may want to grow even more in your prayer life such as praying more consistently on a daily basis instead of a hit or miss or crisis oriented prayer life or to develop your confidence in prayer. Prayer should not be a rushed moment in the morning. Prayer should be a way of life. If Jesus needed extended times of prayer retreat with God, how much more do we? As one prayer warrior remarked “if prayer is to become a way of life for us as it was for Him, we need to change our priorities so we have much more time for prayer”.

Perhaps you want to pray more Kingdom prayers or learn a whole new approach to prayer. Prayer is not exclusively asking God for things for you, but prayer is interceding for others. We should desire to pray Kingdom prayers to seek God for what God wants you to pray and do to carry out His purpose on earth. “If as disciples of Jesus Christ we are going to make a difference, then prayer in all of its expressions must become much more a part of our lives”.

It is my prayer that each of us will grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord (II Peter 3:18) and in our prayer lives. Hopefully you will write some specific goals for yourself in this area. In Part III we will discuss some practical suggestions for writing your goals, whatever they may be.

Linda D. Fegins,
LDFaygo@aol.com
The Prayer Leader, https://ladyofprayer.com
Former Prayer Coordinator and Director (13years), Lydia Circle of Christian Professional and Business Women
Christian Dramatist, “Sojourner Truth”, “Eve” etc.
Sunday School and Christian Education Teacher
Linda’s Report Blog https://instanter.wordpress.com

Tags: , , , ,

“Let’s Get Started: Take the Time to Pray and Write Your Goals”- Part I by Linda Fegins

Feb 28

Posted by Linda Fegins in Uncategorized | No Comments

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” ~ Corrie Ten Boom

“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 mark (goal) for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”. Philippians 3:13-14

Can you believe it’s almost March 1, 2011. When we were moving toward the New Year we heard a lot of talk, read articles and read notes and comments on Facebook about taking the time to write your goals for the New Year. See Fabulous PR coach Pam Perry’s article on the purpose of goals in this blog. https://ladyofprayer.com/?p=284 . Christian author Stacey Hawkins Adams spoke of writing about her goals for the 2011 New Year. She insightfully posted on Facebook, “I spent a few hours last night mapping out goals for the New Year, and I’m excited about challenging myself in several areas. Yet, while I plan, I know my future rests with the One who holds the master plan, so I must always start and end with Him”.

Well, what about you. Have you taken the time to write down the goals and steps you will take to achieve them? Admittedly, I am behind on fulfilling the entire task. I do not want to have any would’ a, should ‘a, and could have regrets about not accomplishing my goals for this year. You may not have written your goals earlier, but it is not too late for “mapping out your goals for this year”.

On Feb 23, 2011, author and Wife Coach Venus Mason-Theus , who is the visionary for the “Anointed Pen Conference” (http://www.anointedpenseminar.info) challenged me and other Facebook friends with the question “ What are your goals and what actions have you taken to achieve your goals so far this year? So I am asking you and I am challenging myself too, what three goals have you set for this year and what actions have you taken toward them?

Now, if you haven’t written your goals or have not taken any steps to achieve them, forget the past. Read the second quote at the very top of this page. Begin right now praying and thinking about writing your goals for the year. There is still time. Take the time to seek God’s face first, pray, meditate on the Word. Listen to what He states to you and write it down. If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time!”

A goal is a target, the desired end of our efforts. Paul talks about pressing toward the mark in Philippians 3:14. Having a goal doesn’t always mean hitting the target —but it does mean getting closer than you would have if you hadn’t had a goal at all. Someone once said, “It is better to aim for a star and hit a mountain than to aim for a mud puddle and hit it every time.” See Cynthia Bezek, “What are Your Spiritual Goals? July|Aug 2000 issue Pray! Magazine. The Bible encourages us to write our goals. Isaiah 32:8 says, “The noble man makes noble plans.” Proverbs 16:3 promises, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” We should have dreams and set goals to reach the dreams, but remember that God holds the authority to say “yea” or “nay”-veto power: “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails”. (Proverbs 19:2)

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things (temporal things, that is) will be added to you” (Matthew. 6:33). Some of your goals could be to be get out of debt, manage your time wisely, to exercise twice a week or to start a new business. However, one of our first goals should be to seek a closer relationship with God. Start praying and writing. Look for Part II by Wednesday March 2, 2011.

Linda D. Fegins, The Prayer Leader
https://ladyofprayer.com
LLadylaw@aol.com

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Setting Goals for the New Year- Start with Prayer…

Jan 17

Posted by Linda Fegins in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

“Without prayer no work is well done” Anonymous

“Embark upon no enterprise you cannot submit to the test of prayer”.


Today is January 17th, 2011, the day we honor Martin Luther King’s birthday and remember the DREAM. What dreams do you have in your heart that will make a difference in the lives of others as well as for you and your family? To carry out the dream we need to write our goals and action steps that will help us live out the dream. It is a good thing to have dreams, goals and to write specific goals ( see Pam Perry article http://ladyof prayer.com/?p=284 ). However, one ” first thing or goal” needs to be sought first. The first goal we should have is to develop, improve, and seek an intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in prayer ( and study of His Word.). God wants a relationship with us/you. We should press, stretch and get out of our comfort zones to maintain a prayer relationship with Him. It is the goal that will have eternal benefits. It is the goal that will give us power,wisdom and guidance about all of our other goals such as improving family relationships, getting out of debt, starting that buisness, writing that book , starting an exercise plan or healing the relationship issues between balkc women and men(See thought rovoking articles by Gary Hardwick on this issue) Prayer is the key to unlocking God’s power in your life to carry out what God has placed in your heart.

Here is an article that arrested me by Phil Miglioratti, a member of the Church Prayer Leaders Network of which I am a member, about making prayer a priority life-style commitment as the one true foundational goal.

It Seems To Me . . by Phil Miglioratti

. . . we need only one spiritual new year’s resolution.
I confess, I have never been good at setting, let alone keeping, resolutions at the start of each new year. Those who stop smoking or start diets impress me; those who keep at it longer than a few days (or hours) make me jealous. And those who go beyond good health resolutions and set spiritual goals and stick to them throughout the coming months shame and humble me.

Anyone can make a resolution; it takes commitment to stay resolved to fight the battles to achieve the objective. And commitment, someone said, is moving beyond good intentions. I have a long list of good intentions.
Which is why Don Whitney’s “Questions for a New Year” in LifeWay’s Pastors Today E-letter caught my attention. The author, a former pastor and then seminary professor, presents 31 questions designed to aid our spiritual transformation; one-a-day spiritual vitamins! He writes: “The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up and get our bearings.” I especially appreciate how he then formats his insights as questions because someone elses’ declarations call for my agreement (not a bad thing) but questions call for my reflection and discernment. Much more potential of Holy Spirit partnership.
But I said we need only one spiritual new year’s resolution, not 31.

“For starters, here are 10 questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God,” Whitney begins as he sets us on our journey with wisdom that is so obvious we often fly right past it! How many of us have prayed about our resolutions but only after we selected them. “Help me lose those 5 extra pounds or start each day at the fitness center or stop this or begin that”–probably all worthy goals but chosen without and before any prayerful dialog with the Lord.
I began reading down the list of questions . . .

1. What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
2. What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
3. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?
7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?
8. What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year?
9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in 10 years? In eternity?

I searched first for any questions that related specifically to prayer and found #7, praying for lost persons to find Christ (imagine what changes our nation would see if every Christ-follower began to seriously pray for his or her neighbors by name and need and for his or her neighborhoods and networks!) and #9, focusing specifically on our own prayer life (someone said we need to exchange a prayer life [usually referring to a brief time spent telling God what we need Him to do] for a life of prayer). Two in the first ten seemed like better representation for prayer than usual. Very hopeful.
My second time through the list was an “Ah-Ha” moment!

Responding to the first, then the second and third and continuing, I realized “Pray” would be a more than appropriate answer to each question.
1. What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God? Pray. True prayer is enjoying the presence of God, not merely telling him things he already knows.
2. What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year? Pray. Praying is very hard work that, once accomplished, sees impossible results.
3. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year? Pray. Especially out loud, together.
4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it? Pray. Pray for a partner who will hold me accountable.
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year? Pray. What I do instead of praying is a huge time-waster.
6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church? Pray. For the pastor. For a reviving of faith and a revising of how we function.
7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year? Pray. Everyone agrees with this but not everyone brings up in heaven real names of real people.
8. What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year? Pray. By praying about and for and through every thing.
9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year? Pray. Read, study, use website resources, yes, but actually carve out time and place to pray.
10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in 10 years? In eternity? Pray. Hands-down winner. Everything (missions, evangelism, stewardship) flows from the life of a person who has moved beyond good intentions to a life of prayer.

It seems to me . . . we need only one word to describe our one spiritual new year’s resolution. (If you do not agree, will you at least agree to pray about it?)
For starters, here are 10 questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God.

by Phil Miglioratti
Phil Miglioratti is a prayer warrior and prayer leader. He has written many articles on prayer and facilitating group prayer. Having served as a teacher, leader and facilitator on prayer in various arenas, currently he is a Church Prayer Leaders Network, Facilitator, and also a National Pastors’ Prayer Network, Facilitator (www.nppn.org). He serves on the National Prayer Committee and is the Illinois Baptist State Association, Prayer and Vision Consultant.
http://www.praynetwork.org/profiles/blogs/it-seems-to-me-6

Linda Fegins, The Prayer Leader, formerly served as Prayer Coordinator for over 12 years for the Lydia Circle of Christian Business and Professional Women , is a member of the Church Prayer Leaders Network and leader of the Intercessory Prayer Ministry at her church.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,