We all have goals. Big goals, like buying a home, or getting married. Small goals, like walking 30 minutes every day. Long-term or short-term goals, like saving money or passing a test. Present goals, like eating healthy or future goals, like taking the vacation of a lifetime!

Whatever your goal might be, we all have them and the prosperity that today’s Bible verse is talking about is found in actually meeting that goal! Seeing our goals fulfilled requires careful planning. Benjamin Franklin said, “Failing to plan, is planning to fail.� Without a well-detailed and carefully, thought-out plan, we probably won’t get very far with our goal. Some of our goals will require hard work. Losing weight and saving money both require sacrifice and dedication. And if you’ve ever tried to do either, then you know that cheating only sets you back. Those hasty shortcuts that seem good at the time, end up costing us more.

For Christians, the Bible is our Life’s Manual. I am so thankful that God saw it necessary to include encouragement for goal-planning. However, we rarely think to ask God for guidance in these very important endeavors. In the book of Nehemiah, we read that he had an “impossibleâ€� goal, which lead him to be in constant prayer as he prepared and planned. With God’s help, he was able to make what he thought impossible, possible. Like Nehemiah, our response should be the same when confronted with our goals â€" no matter the size.

Make a plan, write out the details, work hard, and pray harder. God desires to see us succeed. He desires to see us prosper!

Suggested Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your guidance. Thank you for the wisdom to set realistic goals. Help me to remember to draw from them when making plans for my future and to not take a step until I’ve brought it to you in prayer. I trust you to show me the paths you have for me. I declare that I will meet my goals in Jesus’ Victorious name, Amen.

1. Proverbs 21:5 (NLT).

Today's Encounter was written by: Veronica B.