But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!. Luke 15:17
REFERENCE
Luke 15:11-24
In yesterday’s devotional, we established that like most of us, the prodigal son had a goal to get somewhere (financial freedom), and to achieve his goal, he embarked on a journey. He however got stuck along the way, and had to pause and appraise his situation by asking himself some tough questions. This brought about a turn-around for him.
Many people are stranded in a place of unfulfilled goals (Stuck in the rut) and can’t seem to find a way out. A practical application of the prodigal son’s solution/formula to these peculiar situations, can guarantee the achievement of set goals (targets, desired destination).
You can start by asking yourself these questions, ‘Where was I before I set my goals? What goals did I set for myself, e.g. spiritually, maritally, economically, physically, etc? Where am I now in reaching my goals?’ If you are nowhere near fulfilling your goals, you then should ask, “Is it my fate (destiny) or my state (temporary situation)?”
Determine if the situation you are in is redeemable or irredeemable – right size it. If you consider it your fate, then you are stuck. If you see it as a temporary state, then there is a flicker of hope that you will still accomplish the goals you set out to achieve. If they were God-given and reasonable goals at the beginning, you should not change your mind because of your present stagnation or delay in taking off.
The prodigal son could have concluded that the situation was his fate, yet he chose to see it as a temporary state which could be redeemed. He refused to let his current state stop him from trying again to reach his goals and desires for total (physical, relationship and financial) freedom. He took remedial steps. The first formula to getting unstuck in a rut and moving forward is to see your setback as a temporary situation which is subject to change, not as a permanent state of hopelessness. This mindset will strengthen you not to abandon your goals but to keep pushing till you get your desired results.
SCRIPTURE PHOTO
ADDITIONAL STUDY
Psalm 34:17-20, Proverbs 27:23, & 2 Corinthians 4:17 (GNT)
PRAYER POINT
Pray for a release of God’s strength to fortify your will not to abandon your goals halfway because of temporary setbacks; but to stand strong and keep pushing till your God-given goals are met.
8 Comments
Ashi Dooshima
June 19, 2018, at 12:54 amAmen. Self appraisal is key in life! It helps one to improve more and better.
Olushola
June 19, 2018, at 12:56 amI will still praise him for he is ever faithful
Sarah Johnson
June 19, 2018, at 4:18 amYour strength is all I need to carry on Lord.
No matter what how hard or it is I just have to hold on cause help will surely come though it tarries.
Shizawali
June 19, 2018, at 6:00 amThank you Father for Grace to keep going, to keep pushing to my goals!
Oloruntoba Freeman
June 19, 2018, at 7:37 amGood morning all. Such a great lesson this morning. I believe that it is necessary for us to understand some non-negotiable demands of breaking free when we find ourselves stuck in the rut. One of such is that we must be willing to OFFEND the TEMPORARY in order to lay hold on the ETERNAL. Yes! OFFEND! we need to start by offending our complacent, cerebrally lazy and layed back WONDERFUL SELF. We need to raise the bar and begin to work ourselves out of our comfort zones in all areas of our lives. Success is never an event, it’s always a process. So also is failure. The Bible was quite clear about that the prodigal son “began to be in want”. So, it was a set of rules to living that led him to the avenue of being in want. If we must reroute our way back to fulfilling our dreams, we must initiate another set of rules in the opposite direction to where we are. Opposite means we won’t find it appealing to our old self. Oh not all. It’s not going to be sweet at all, BUT, that’s the only way! And yours truly, It’s going to be worth all the pain in the end! May God give us the inner strength to GET UP and GET GOING in the right direction in Jesus name. Have a great day.
Pastor Wale Afelumo
June 19, 2018, at 11:08 pmAmazing insight. Thanks. True words. God bless you
Dominic Livinus
June 19, 2018, at 8:39 amFather in the name of Jesus Christ, help me to understand my goals and objectives in life. Give me divine direction and enablement to achieve this goals in Jesus mighty name amen.
Rolland
June 29, 2018, at 9:47 amThanks to the wonderful guide