I was just scrolling through Twitter, as I often do, and came across a short video clip from Pastor Steven Furtick that really made me think.

It made me ask myself a question I think most of us could benefit from asking –

How do my expectations measure up to my abilities?

Now, if you know anything about me, you know I’m all about setting goals. I thrive on helping people set Big Audacious Goals (BAG’s).

To me, nothing is more rewarding than coming up with the biggest BAG you’ve ever set and then realizing it!

However, there is one problem with that.

What if your BAG is so far beyond your current abilities, strengths, and resources that you create a situation where you cannot succeed?

Before I move on I need to clarify that I am in no way questioning God’s ability to do outrageous things that stretch beyond our own abilities, strengths, and resources.

After all, Ephesians 3:20 is one of my favorite verses –

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.”

But, as Pastor Furtick mentions in the clip, I also think we should set BAG’s that “stretch us but don’t break us.”

Let’s think about it this way-

If we walked into a gym and tried to squat the bar with 200 pounds on it, how would that go?

Maybe you’re a beast, and that’s a piece of cake. But, I bet most of us would end up with a beastly back injury or torn muscles instead.

What if we went into the gym and tried to squat just the bar?

It might still be difficult, but after practice and repetition, we could do it. Then we add a little weight, and then some more. And maybe over time we could build up the strength to squat that 245 pounds!

Our muscles work on the SAID (Specific Adaptations to Imposed Demands) Principle. Which means, that our muscles strengthen based on the specific stresses placed on them.

In other words——–

We have to train for what we want to do and we have to train slightly beyond our abilities.

I think that idea is critical when it comes to setting goals.

We have to take an honest assessment of our abilities, strengths, and resources. And then set goals that go beyond enough to stretch us – to impose some demands on us – but not so far that we’re just setting ourselves up for a broken spirit.

If we set our goals below our abilities, strengths, and resources, we are setting ourselves up for complacency. And just like with our muscles, complacency leads to atrophy – a wasting away of those very same gifts.

The good news is that when we meet goals, we are much more likely to set new ones. Each time, stretching and demanding just a little bit more from us as we go. Gaining strength all along the way.

So, what about you?

What kind of goals are you setting?

Remember these two important truths:

1. Are your goals keeping you complacent, allowing your hope, ambition, and drive to atrophy?

OR…

2. Have you set goals that are so big and audacious that no amount of Holy Spirit intervention could help you reach them, and your own spirit has been crushed?

If either of those are the case, it’s time to rethink the plan.

Find a BAG that stretches beyond your capabilities, leaving room for the Holy Spirit to work and for you to grow and strengthen as you go. Then as you reach that particular goal- move it on up! 🙂

Strive to be more than you dreamed possible and watch what amazing things God will do with your life! That my friends is a very good DoAhead!

Your DoAhead Friend,