It's great to set goals and have high expectations. If you never set any goals, chances are you will never attain the things you really want in life--whether it's good relationships, a satisfying career, a deeper walk with God, financial prosperity, et cetera.

However, you must be aware that there are hurdles in the path of every goal. Just as a good runner trains his body to leap over hurdles, we as Christians must train our minds to overcome the obstacles to our faith.

Discover how to defeat three common hurdles in between you and your goals.

• Hurdle One: Mood Swings
  If you've got big dreams, more than likely, you also experience mood swings--feeling optimistic one day and depressed the next. It simply goes with the territory. You've got your face set towards the horizon; in the meanwhile, you're trampling over weeds and stumbling on rocks. Plus, there may not be anyone who "sees" what you see, so you must learn to motivate and encourage yourself. How do you do it?

Solution: Renew your mind every day with the word of God. This doesn't mean just reading the Bible randomly. Pick out scriptures that remind you of God's faithfulness. If God gave you a word about your future or you received a prophecy about your future, write it down. During those times when you find it hard to believe it will come to pass, read it and meditate on it. Focusing on God's promises instead of your circumstances will help you maintain a positive attitude. Meditate on this...

1 Thessalonians 5:24
The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he'll do it! (The Message)

• Hurdle Two: Fear
  One of the primary signs of fear is procrastination and blame. If you've ever spent the majority of your day doing everything but the thing you know God has called you to do, you, my friend, are experiencing the height of procrastination. It's tempting to focus on the easy things instead of the "God thing." We often avoid tasks that we are afraid to do or that are unfamiliar. Either you don't know how to do what God has called you to do or your vision is so big, it's overwhelming. How do we respond? We simply choose to do something easier--something that's not God's will; that's procrastination.

  Another form of procrastinating is to blame other people or your circumstances as to why you cannot do what you need to do. For example, "If only _______ would stop taking up so much of my time, then I could do______." Or, "If only I had enough money, then I could do_______."

  Solution: Discipline yourself to spend a set amount of time each day working towards your goal. Be realistic. While you are working towards your future you must also take care of the present (spouse, family, job and other obligations). Your schedule may be full, but you can do something--even spending only 30 minutes to an hour each day is a good start. Do this consistently for one month and you will have dedicated approximately 20 to 40 hours of work towards your goal! Finally, don't be afraid to fail. Instead, be afraid of wondering what would have happened if you had tried. Meditate on this...

  Romans 8:15
  This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?" (The Message)

• Hurdle Three: Giving Up
  The temptation to give up is coming, so be prepared for it. Your dream is probably going to be harder to obtain than you realized initially. But, there's good news. If God said it, it will happen; it's just a matter of time. The challenge is not to quit before the appointed time. There may be many days, months or years before what God promised occurs. So how can you prevent the long wait from wearing you down?

  Solution: Focus on perfecting the gifts God has placed in you and on developing godly character. This will take your mind off the wait. Remember, you can't see the finish line, but God can. You might only be one hurdle away from victory; so don't quit! Meditate on this...

  Galatians 6:9
  So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. (New Living Translation)

Today's Life Key: Faithful consistency is the key to victory.

About the Author: Valerie Morrow was born-again at the tender age of 5, but has been chasing Jesus and the will of God seriously for about 10 years. As a busy (we prefer the word productive) wife, mother, entrepreneur, leader, ministry student and writer, she focuses on being well-balanced, as a necessity in life. Valerie has been a waitress, a secretary, a receptionist, a marketing assistant, an account coordinator, an account manager, a marketing director, a business owner and the "candy lady." She has learned the meaning of being secure in Christ regardless of your position or function in life and loves to share her insights through devotionals, bible studies and "self- improvement" articles from a Biblical perspective. Valerie is the wife of Henry Morrow and the mother of Henry and Charli Kathryn. She is an active member of Without Walls International Church under the leadership of Sr. Pastor Paula White in Tampa, Florida.