Church Of The Harvest | Sermon Podcast | Cleveland, TN · Word Of Life Ministries - Church of the Harvest

Godly Goals For A New Year - Pastor Rhonda Davis

·39 min

Pastor Rhonda Davis of Church of the Harvest delivers a sermon on establishing godly goals for the new year. She opens by explaining the biblical command from Habakkuk 2:3 to "write the vision" and make it plain, emphasizing the importance of clarity and action. Davis states the first rule is to not dwell on past failures or unfinished tasks from the previous year, as this creates mental stagnation. She cites that the brain is a goal-seeking organism, and setting goals creates structural tension that seeks to close the gap between your current and desired state. Davis references author and pastor Mark Batterson, noting his advice from *The Circle Maker* to write goals down, be specific, and think in categories like spiritual or physical aims. She teaches that aligning goals with God-given purpose means "numbering our days" as commanded in Psalm 90:12, which means assigning value and living skillfully. Davis clarifies that God wants to bless believers, referencing 3 John 1:2, but goals must ultimately glorify God, who sanctifies our desires. She defines goals as "dreams with deadlines" that bring order and make large aspirations manageable. A key point is to "despise not small beginnings," drawing from Zechariah 4:10, because God rejoices over the start of the work and prepares us for bigger things through small, faithful steps. Davis illustrates this with a story about the humble, poorly attended beginnings of her "Queen for a Day" women's outreach, which later grew significantly. She stresses the importance of celebrating milestones, referencing the "Ebenezer" stone from 1 Samuel as a marker of God's help. Davis also shares a personal anecdote about the prolonged discomfort of remodeling her home, using it to explain how knowing your "why" provides endurance. She cites sociological research stating that even the shyest person influences 10,000 people in a lifetime, underscoring why goal-setting matters. Davis argues that passion is fleeting, so one must rely on conviction and purpose, quoting Acts 20:24 where Paul says "none of these things move me." She identifies "grit"—courage and determination—as imperative for goals, with its arch-enemy being a desire for ease, not rest. Davis recounts a story from her youth of being forced to work a long shift at a Holiday Inn job, which taught her perseverance. She concludes that persistence and discipline are required to continue when initial excitement fades, quoting Winston Churchill's "never give in" mantra. The sermon's tone is energetic, conversational, and deeply personal, blending biblical teaching with life stories, self-deprecating humor, and direct audience interaction. Listeners seeking practical, faith-based motivation for personal growth and perseverance will find this episode highly valuable. Those preferring purely theological exposition or a calm, academic style might find the energetic delivery and personal tangents less engaging.

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