When we keep trying, we are setting goals. Jesus set goals, He planned exactly when He would do something. Paul always planned as well. He wrote:
Philippians 3:12 12 I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal, but I continue trying to reach it and to make it mine. Christ wants me to do that, which is the reason he made me his. 13 Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not yet reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to the life above.”
Goals give us hope, they keep us moving, they allow us to forget problems because we are now focusing on the goal.
If you think about your quitting goals 12 times a day, you will increase your chance of overcoming. If your goals include new quitting habits, your chances go up even more.
Second, the verse says, “Straining toward what is ahead.” Straining means quoting one of the verses for quitting over and over again. Straining means praying about turning from thoughts of our habits, and replacing them with praise or some other positive thoughts.
Straining is finding something “Great” to do (Or prepare to do). Consider praying:
“Father, help me to turn tempting thoughts into reminders to get into goal setting mode.”
Today, I am straining to overcome problems by praying:
“Father, help me to be content, and help me to care about souls.”
Third, set great quitting goals. Have great specific plans for when and how you will accomplish those goals. Have great goals written in a notebook that you review and add to every day. Goals lead to habits, and new habits lead to quitting.
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