Quiet Steady Action

Goal setting is great when you’re enthusiastic about the goal.  What if you’re not excited about a goal, project, or task that needs to be accomplished?  What if the goal is a difficult task that you really don’t want to do?

I completed a work-related goal today.  Right now I have a great sense of accomplishment because the project/task took a long time, and now it’s done.  I won’t go into the details, and the details don’t really matter.  The point is that I really experienced an important principle about goal setting… rather, goal accomplishment.  It is the result of quiet steady action.

As I look back about a year ago, I remember facing the daily temptation to forego steady action, telling myself I would work on the project/task when I had a lot of time to devote to it.  Well, I could see that my “wait until I have time” strategy was not going to get it done.  I decided to do a little bit each day and I scheduled time on my calendar.  I made a little tent sign for my desk that said “10 minutes a day” (see my blogpost of that title).  With my steady action, I accomplished the goal on the exact day that I needed to accomplish it!  (Thank you, Lord!)

Quiet steady action is a great approach to achieve goals, especially difficult goals that could end up on the back burner of priorities.  I believe (and experienced) that steady action is a marvelous way to avoid stress, disappointment, and a sense of being overwhelmed.  I may not see immediate results, as I would if I poured all of my energy into the task and completed it quickly, but eventually, with steady action, the results appear, and the accomplishment is no less significant.  (Not everything has to be a huge stressful effort that consumes all of your energy and time, leaving you drained and tired!)

Have any of your 2017 goals moved to the back burner because they are difficult or you just don't want to do it?  As you move forward with your goals, see if you need to make a change and embrace a new strategy – quiet steady action – to assure goal accomplishment.

I’m keeping up with steady action of memorizing Bible verses… I have memorized a total of 40 verses!  Read these verses out loud:

Romans 8:24-25 (NLT):

24- We were given this hope when we were saved.

       (If we already have something, we don't need

       to hope for it.

25- But if we look forward to something we don't

      have yet, we must wait patiently and confidently.)

      (Emphasis added.)

Devotion

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.  John 3:16

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for helping me daily and giving me strength and motivation to accomplish what I need to do.  Thank you for helping me to accomplish the year-long goal that I completed today.  You helped me to take quiet steady action that gave me peace in the process.  I am reminded today, with this verse, how much you love us.  Thank you for the assurance of salvation through Jesus Christ.  In His name, Amen.

© 2017 Linda Lijewski

The Best Advice

My Number 1 goal is to finish writing a book.  A while ago, I reviewed and edited the first part of the book.  I was ready to show it to someone who could read it and let me know how the book was going.  I was not expecting all the changes he suggested!  He had a lot of questions, so apparently the first few chapters needed some editing to make the story clearer.  I reviewed and edited again, and then again.  I added a few more chapters and edited again.  Then, I was ready, and I showed it to someone else to get another opinion of the book up to that point.

Oh my goodness. He had so many suggestions, it was clear that he thought the book needed lots of editing.  I was so discouraged.  How much more editing will it take?  I put the book aside for weeks.  I felt I couldn’t go on with more chapters until I had gone back and edited the first part all over again.  If I continued editing the first part of the book again, I felt that the story would go in a different direction and it would not say what I wanted it to say.

I told my sister about my discouragement.  She cautioned me about showing anyone my draft chapters until I was ready to have someone edit the book.  She said, “Never give your unfinished manuscript to someone to read just to see what they think.  Wait until the book is published… then give it to people to read, and they’ll just read it and enjoy it!”

I immediately understood the wisdom of her advice.  I looked down and shook my head.  How could I have been so short-sighted?  How could I possibly think that it would be a good idea to give out my draft chapters for casual editing?  If someone knows that the chapters are in draft form, of course they will want to suggest changes!  And everyone’s changes will be different.

Thankfully, I am back to the book and I have resolved not to let anyone read it until I am ready for an experienced editor to read the book.  For now, I am very relieved to take back control over my book and the editing process!

I am sharing this advice from my sister because it has really helped to bring my writing journey into clear focus.  Her advice is helping me to stay true to the purpose of my book as well as my own style.  Also, because one of the main purposes of “Goal Setter’s Journey” is to share my experience of writing my first book, I wanted to share this “best advice” from my sister, who has already published a book.  I believe it will help you if you are working on a book or plan to write a book some day!

As we move forward in 2017, stay focused on your own goals and your path, and evaluate your progress.  Don’t lose heart.  Instead, give yourself a pat on the back and acknowledge all you have accomplished.  And remember, we still have five months to achieve our 2017 goals!

I’m keeping up with my goal of memorizing Bible verses.  Below are some verses about the reality of the greatness of God, written here from memory:

Isaiah 55:8-11 (NIV):

8-  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

      neither are your ways my ways,”

      declares the Lord.

9-  “As the heavens are higher than the earth,

      so are my ways higher than your ways

      and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10- As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,

      and do not return to it without watering the earth

      and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields

      seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

11- so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

      It will not return to me empty,

      but will accomplish what I desire

      and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

      (Emphasis added.)

Devotion

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.  Psalm 130:5

Prayer:

Lord, we believe your Word and acknowledge your greatness today.  We take time today to focus on you and acknowledge the fact that you are our Creator!  You have revealed yourself to us through your Word.  Your wisdom far outweighs our own.  We pray for YOUR wisdom today as we seek to follow your will and spread your Word to those who have ears to hear.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

© 2017 Linda Lijewski