WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
JANUARY 15, 2025
TOPIC: MAKE SACRIFICES TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS
BY T. O. BANSO
“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1 Corinthians 9:25 New International Version).
Achieving your goals whether spiritual or physical, will require that you make sacrifices. You will have to forgo some things. To realize your goals, be ready to do some things you were not doing before. Your determination to forgo or do those things shows your seriousness about achieving your goals.
Nobody will wake up from his sleep and see that his goals have been achieved. No. “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man” (Proverbs 6:6-11 New International Version). Are you ready to make sacrifices to achieve your goals for 2025?
The sacrifice may be hard work, self-denial, separation from some relationships, etc. You need hard work, self-control, and the right relationships, among others, to realize your goals. Without these, you cannot accomplish them. Many people could not achieve their goals in the past because of a lack of these. There was no commitment on their part to make necessary sacrifices for their goals to succeed.
We are halfway into the first month of the year and it will soon end, remaining eleven months. As a student, pastor, businessman, professional, or whatever you are, will you forgo what is necessary to achieve your goals? It is not enough to set goals. You must make the needed sacrifices to achieve them.
Paul says, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1 Corinthians 9:25 New International Version). To win an earthly or an eternal prize, you must make sacrifices.
The higher your goal, the greater the sacrifices you must make. Serious goals are not achieved easily. The Living Bible renders 1 Corinthians 9:25 thus: “To win the contest you must deny yourselves many things that would keep you from doing your best. An athlete goes to all this trouble just to win a blue ribbon or a silver cup, but we do it for a heavenly reward that never disappears.” Note the phrase “To win the contest you must deny yourselves many things.” That refers to making sacrifices to win the prize, which may include sacrificing your comfort.
Jacob sacrificed to achieve his goal of marrying Rachel. Despite being deceived by his uncle, Laban, he persevered until he married Rachel. He served for fourteen years to achieve his goal of marrying Rachel (Genesis 29:20-30). Will you sacrifice what is necessary and persevere until you accomplish your goals? How ready are you to give up something for something else you consider more important: your goal?
Notice how Jacob achieved his goal of buying the birthright from his brother, Esau? He offered Esau a bowl of stew in exchange for his birthright. He sacrificed his food to buy the birthright. He knew that the birthright had a higher value than his food and sacrificed it to gain the birthright.
Genesis 25:29-34 says, “Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. And Esau said to Jacob, ‘Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.’ Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, ‘Sell me your birthright as of this day.’ And Esau said, ‘Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?’ Then Jacob said, ‘Swear to me as of this day.’ So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright” (New King James Version). You must make sacrifices to achieve your goals.
Spending time to study the Bible and pray is part of the sacrifice you must make to achieve your goals. “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8 New King James Version). The Word of God is a lamp unto your feet, and a light unto your path (Psalm 119:105). Therefore, you must sacrifice time to study and meditate daily.
In addition, you must be ready to pray and fast. It is not always easy to pray. It is easier to chat for hours, sleep, or even dance than pray! The same goes for fasting. You must discipline yourself to pray and fast whether you feel like it or not to deal with anything internal or external that wants to hinder your goals.
Some goals make Satan madder than others! He fights to ensure they fail. Generally, he doesn’t want you to succeed in life. He doesn’t want you to go forward. He wants to frustrate you. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12 New King James Version). Therefore, you must be alert to his wiles. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9 New King James Version).
Don’t let Satan take advantage of you; don’t be ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthians 2:11). Therefore, watch and pray (Matthew 26:41). 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing” (New King James Version). The New Living Translation says, “Never stop praying.” Be alert spiritually. Don’t allow the enemy to plant weeds among your wheat. “But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way” (Matthew 13:25 New King James Version).
What are you ready to sacrifice to realize your goals this year? You may have to postpone or suspend some good things to realize your goals. You may need to reorder your priorities and practise delayed gratification. You may also need to end some relationships and cultivate new ones. “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” (Proverbs 13:20 English Standard Version). The prize is worth the sacrifices! No pain, no gain! If you have not set goals for the year, prayerfully do so, and do all that is needed to achieve them.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. Take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner, and cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Holy Spirit, help me to make the necessary sacrifices to achieve my goals this year. I shall not work towards the failure of my goals for the year. My goals for 2025 shall be fulfilled in Jesus’ name.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
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