| I recently had the opportunity to interview Lance | | | | God's. How we treat our family is with God's kingdom |
| Armstrong's trainer, Chris Carmichael. As you may | | | | in mind. And how make all of our decisions is guided by |
| know, Lance is the seven-time winner of the grueling | | | | how well they help us reach the ultimate goal. |
| Tour de France bike race. What Chris saw in Lance | | | | Let me give you an example. A job opportunity can |
| during his training may change the way you view your | | | | create problems within a marriage. When you evaluate |
| life. | | | | a job opportunity with your own goals in mind, it can |
| Chris Carmichael has raced in the Tour de France and | | | | cause arguments and separation between spouses. |
| the Olympics, so he knows what it takes to win. When | | | | But when you and your spouse have God and His |
| I asked him what made Lance different from other | | | | kingdom as your sole goal, the individual goals are |
| athletes he has trained, here's what he said: "The | | | | tossed out the window. All of a sudden, you and your |
| difference in Lance is that he gave 100% to reach his | | | | spouse are evaluating the move based on how it |
| goal. Every other athlete I've trained gave a lot, usually | | | | serves God and builds His kingdom. You're working |
| 99% or 99.9%. That's why they were elite athletes. But | | | | together to accomplish the same goal. |
| none of them gave 100%. Lance gave it all. That's | | | | The husband's promotion and the wife's comfort are |
| what made him a champion." | | | | given up to reach a decision based on a far more |
| Christians can learn a lot from this. How many of us | | | | important goal. And best of all, this is a goal you can |
| give 100% to reach a goal? Not many. Most of us are | | | | devote yourself to wholeheartedly. There's no need to |
| pretty confused about what goals we should have. | | | | have any reservation about the decision you make. |
| We know serving God is important. We also know we | | | | You can move forward without any confusion. And |
| need to take care of our family. And we want to do | | | | you can move forward with complete confidence in |
| well in our work. For most Christians, the division keeps | | | | God's direction and provision. |
| us from giving 100% to anything. | | | | Yes, you can still make wrong decisions. But you can |
| But God has a solution for that confusion. He wants us | | | | also trust that God will use such an experience to His |
| to be 100% devoted to Him. As I've said before, He is | | | | glory and to your good (Romans 8:28). Instead of |
| our priority. Serving and glorifying Him is our goal. | | | | blaming your spouse for a bad decision, you can look |
| Everything we do should be completely geared | | | | at each other and know that God is using what |
| toward God and building His kingdom. Once we get | | | | happened to fulfill His purposes. You can rest in God. |
| that right, everything else will fall into place. | | | | That's where you'll find success. That's where you'll |
| Having total devotion to God will make us realize that | | | | find peace. |
| it's not our goals that matter. In fact, any goals we do | | | | Best of all, it's a goal you can be completely, 100% |
| set should be stepping-stones to this ultimate goal. | | | | devoted to without any reservation whatsoever. And |
| Goals at work are accomplished not for our glory, but | | | | there's no guilt over other neglected responsibilities. |