Did you know that God has goals and that His goals are always S.M.A.R.T.?

We humans are so funny. We think we are always inventing and creating and are just well…so smart! And then we turn around and basically spit in God’s face and tell Him either we don’t need Him except in extreme emergencies or that He doesn’t exist at all.

(I’ve often wondered why atheists get so upset with Jesus’ disciples. If God isn’t real, then Jesus is a non-relevant personage of history and shouldn’t really be anything for them to worry about. If we’re just a bunch of fool hearty saps, why do they care how we live or if we worship or even tell them about Jesus? If we’re so wrong aren’t we just a bunch of lunatics that no one with any smarts (oh, there’s that word) will ever give us heed? But that whole subject deserves its own blog post; maybe even a series.)

I must say that truly only God knows why He thinks of us…of me at all,

let alone have all of us in mind when it comes to His eternal S.M.A.R.T. goals.

Generally speaking S.M.A.R.T is an acronym used to help people and organizations to develop and implement goals.

Specific: The goal/s must be particular and definitive. Ambiguity accomplishes nothing.

Measurable: The goal/s need to be stated in a way they can be measured.

How will you know you’ve achieved the goal?

Achievable: The goal/s must be attainable. There is not greater disaster than setting yourself up for defeat and discouragement with unattainable goals.

Relevant: The goal/s must matter. Why bother accomplishing the goal if it doesn’t matter.

Time-based: The goal/s must have a deadline. Open ended goals rarely have success.

God doesn’t need a human acronym to help Him set goals, but this particular goals system has reminded that we aren’t nearly as smart as we think we are. And it reminds that there really is nothing new under the sun and nothing surprises God. And it reminds me that God is exactly as smart as He is and much more than we can even begin to think or imagine. And that His goals are amazing and wondrous.

Here are just a few of God’s very S.M.A.R.T. goals.

John 3:16-17

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. For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

Specific: Here is the one and only way to have eternal life.

Measurable: Whoever believes will not be judged.

Achievable: God has already done this.

Relevant: God loved. Not much more relevant than that!

Time-based: Eternal life.

John 14:1-4

Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.

Specific: Jesus is preparing a place for us.

Measurable: There are many dwelling places.

Achievable: He is going, but He is coming back.

Relevant: Where we will spend eternity.

Time-based: He is coming to get us when all the dwelling place are done!

God has lots of goals and He is doing every one of them outside of time and space, but inside each and every one of those who believe on His Son, Jesus the Christ!

I encourage you to apply this S.M.A.R.T system to God’s promises and I think you’ll receive a fresh encouragement and blessing from God’s unending and timeless goals!