How to Stay on Target

Posted On July 11, 2021

“For God will never give you the spirit of fear,
but the Holy Spirit who gives you mighty power, love, and self-control.”

2 Timothy 1:7 TPT

This week we discuss how to know if we are staying on target with God’s will. Being a sci-fi fan, as I was preparing my notes for this post, I couldn’t help but think of the following scene from Star Wars: Rebel pilots have been charged with the nearly impossible task of destroying the Death Star, a terrible weapon of the evil Empire, capable of destroying entire planets. In this clip, a rebel pilot is being assaulted by enemy fire while attempting his attack run on the Death Star…

Do you ever feel like this poor pilot, trying desperately to do what’s required while the enemy is attacking all around? I sure do! I know what God wants me to do. I try to do it. I try to stay on target while I’m being attacked by stressful thoughts full of worry and fear. Finally, I realize the job is just too big for me. I panic . . and then I crash and burn! If this sounds like you, too, take comfort in the fact that you are not alone. In fact, Dr. Charles F. Stanley, a pastor and author who has often encouraged me with his words, has battled these things, too:

“There was a time I was struggling terribly with discouragement, doubt, fear, and loneliness. I spent many evenings having long conversations with a close friend, who listened patiently. Many times, during these talks, my friend would stop me and say, ‘But remember, God is in control.’ God is in control. This statement became an anchor in my life. No matter how hard the winds of affliction blew or how much the adversity intensified, I was able to remain steady because of the simple truth of the Lord’s sovereignty over all things. I could face whatever terrifying obstacle or insurmountable challenge with the assurance of the Father’s complete power and wisdom to overcome it on my behalf.”

Charles F. Stanley, God’s Purpose for Your Life

So how do we deal with life when we’re faced with overwhelming problems and it seems like the odds are stacked against us? How do we stay on target when we’re filled with anxiety and fear? We remember that God is in control, and we don’t try to go it alone. We stay focused on our Father’s voice and trust Him to guide us through anything we’re facing. When we do this, we will feel His calming presence in us.

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous be shaken.”

Psalm 55:22 NIV

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”

Isaiah 26:3 NLT

This all sounds good, but how do we actually do it? The first thing we’ve got to do is turn our thoughts over to God. We’ve got to actively seek God every day and tell Him everything that’s on our mind. In fact, what has helped me is to direct all my thoughts to God throughout the day instead of just talking to myself. For example, instead of thinking, How am I going to do this? and then letting my mind spin with worry and fear, I pray, Lord, please give me Your strength to do this. And then I try to quiet my mind and listen for His voice. He may speak in the form of a Scripture verse that comes to mind, a hymn that starts playing in my head, a gentle breeze, a song on the radio, a text from a friend, or in one of a million other ways. But if I’m not listening, I’ll miss it. I’ve had to learn to be quiet and listen, which is sometimes hard to do in this noisy world. I’m not always good at it, but that’s what it takes. That’s what Jesus had to do, too. He often took time to slip away and spend time with the Father.

“Therefore, when stress builds and there’s no relief in sight, we need to take Jesus’ example and find a quiet place to be alone with Him, because that opens us to His presence, wisdom, and power. We cast our burdens onto Him, acknowledging Him as our sufficiency. He can carry the weight that accompanies any stressful or painful situation we face. Many people struggle because they feel guilt over past sin and believe God won’t hear their prayers. But the Father is waiting with unconditional love and forgiveness for us to approach Him — always willing to set us back on the right course. So never hesitate to take your afflictions and pressures to God in prayer. He knows everything you need even before you ask and longs to spend time alone with you.”

Charles F. Stanley, God’s Purpose for Your Life

Paul assures us in Romans 8:38-39, that nothing can separate us from God’s love. So we never need to be afraid to go to our Father and ask Him to help us. When we turn our worries and fears over to Him, we can let go of all our anxiety and be filled with His peace. In fact, I’ve learned that this is actually a good way to tell if I’m on target with God’s will: If I am, I will be filled with God’s joy and peace. If I am filled instead with anxiety, fear, anger, despair, or any other negative emotion, it’s a sign that I’ve gotten off track. It’s an indication that I need to go back to the Father and ask for His help.

“Peace is a gift that God gives each one of us — a fruit of His Spirit that He wants to characterize in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23). Because of this, the tranquility we feel — or lack of it — acts as God’s umpire in us. When we have a true sense of calm within, we know that we’re in the center of His will. If there is a lack of peacefulness, something is wrong. Therefore, if you’re feeling stressed and unsettled today, stop and ask God to reveal what’s going on and give your burdens to Him (Philippians 4:6-7). He may lead you to take a step of faith, comfort you in your sorrow, call you to be courageous in your troubles or to surrender your cares to Him (Psalm 55:22). And when you do, the tranquility will follow. So regardless of what you face, allow His abiding presence to give you peace.”

Charles F. Stanley, God’s Purpose for Your Life

“Peace does not mean there is no storm. Peace does not mean there’s no warfare either. God’s peace creates a center of quiet in the midst of turbulence. True guidance from God does not push us; it brings peace and satisfaction.”

James W. Goll, The Beginner’s Guide to Hearing God

Once we develop the habit of spending time in God’s presence, we will learn to hear His voice. And then we can have joy and peace no matter what circumstances we face. If we are followers of Christ, we have God’s Spirit living inside of us. God can guide us in any way He chooses, but often He does so through the Holy Spirit speaking directly to our spirit. What does this mean exactly? I’m still no expert, but what I’m learning is that as we turn our thoughts over to Him, He begins to transform them. His thoughts become our thoughts and His desires become our desires. As we spend more time with the Father, in prayer and in His Word, it becomes natural to hear Him speaking directly to our hearts and minds through His Spirit.

If you’ll forgive another Star Wars reference, it’s a little bit like the voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi in Luke Skywalker’s head, reminding him to trust in something larger than himself. Of course, we are called to trust in our all-powerful God, not a fictional energy force from a science fiction movie, but it’s the same idea. When we let go of our fears and worries, quiet our minds, and trust God to guide us, He will give us His peace. This is a peace that makes no sense to our human minds. It’s a peace that keeps us calm and steady in the middle of the storm, even though our senses are screaming out for us to panic. It’s a peace that could come only from God.

“As we do our part (rejoice in the Lord, pursue a gentle spirit, pray about everything, and cling to gratitude), God does his part. He bestows upon us the peace of God. Note, this is not a peace from God. Our Father gives us the very peace of God. He downloads the tranquility of the throne room into our world, resulting in an inexplicable calm. We should be worried, but we aren’t. We should be upset, but we are comforted. The peace of God transcends all logic, scheming, and efforts to explain it.”

Max Lucado, Anxious for Nothing

God is in control. When we accept this — when we really let it sink in and transform our thinking — we feel His peace in us. God is bigger than any problems or circumstances we face, and He has a perfect plan for our lives. Believe it. And then let that belief bring you calm in the midst of the battle you may be facing. Below, I have included another scene from Star Wars. In this clip, Luke Skywalker attempts the same attack run as the pilot in the previous video. But instead of relying on his own resources, he trusts in a force larger than himself and is filled with peace rather than fear…

“The Lord is near! You are not alone. You may feel alone. You may think you are alone. But there is never a moment in which you face life without help. God is near.”

Max Lucado, Anxious for Nothing

Notice that Luke did not win the battle alone. Just when it looked like he was done for, he received perfectly-timed help from a friend. When we trust God and let Him guide us according to His perfect timing, we will see the miracle of God’s providence in action. He can weave together millions of details, including help from others that He is also guiding, to accomplish His will. It really is amazing! So we don’t have to be afraid. God is all-knowing and all-powerful, and He is always with us. As long as we stay connected to Him and let Him lead us — this means learning to hear His voice and being willing to obey His instructions — He will take care of everything else.

“Nothing that is happening to you is beyond His reach or strength to conquer it for you. Yes, you may feel the full impact that this trial is too big for you. But that is so you can know for certain that it is the Lord who delivers you. So do not lose heart or be afraid. God is in control. And He will undoubtedly help you.”

Charles F. Stanley, God’s Purpose for Your Life

This week’s Scripture passages remind us to trust in the Lord and not be afraid. When we let the Holy Spirit rule our thoughts, He will guide us into God’s perfect will. When we trust God to lead us and obey His instructions, we are rewarded with His supernatural peace.

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:7 ESV

References:

• Goll, James W. The Beginner’s Guide to Hearing God. Regal from Gospel Light, 2008.
• Lucado, Max. Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World. Thomas Nelson, 2017.
• Stanley, Charles F. God’s Purpose for Your Life: 365 Devotions. Thomas Nelson, 2020.
• “Star Wars: A New Hope | Luke Destroys The Death Star | 4K HDR.” YouTube, uploaded by Star Wars HDR, 1 January 2022, https://youtu.be/YRZG40yg_mY.
• Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. Dir. George Lucas. 20th Century Fox, 1977.
• “Stay on Target.” YouTube, uploaded by Michael Cioffi, 6 May 2012, https://youtu.be/NnP5iDKwuwk.

Images:

• Space Corridor featured image by prettysleepy1 from Pixabay
• Night Sky image by Free-Photos from Pixabay
• Stormy Highway image by J Byers from Pixabay (edited by me)
• Light Cross image by ParallelVision from Pixabay