There exist unlimited resources that offer advice and instruction on strategies for success. Once you have read a few of them, it becomes clear that there are certain themes central to all the strategies. One of those themes is the importance of creating and maintaining written goals.

It has been well researched and documented that those who have written goals are more likely to be successful than those who do not have written goals.

The warning that should always accompany this advice is that written goals should emerge from our innermost dreams and should be flexible enough to edit and amend when necessary. The biggest mistake one can make is to set a goal based on the expectations of others. Too many people live and die pursuing dreams that others have for them. 

The second big mistake one can make is to become a slave to a written plan. I am sure Joshua’s written plans did not specifically state he should walk around the locked gates of Jericho once a day for an entire week, and then walk around the wall seven times on the seventh day. Even though it was not what he had planned, it was the strategy God gave him. And Joshua’s willingness to do something that was not in his plan caused him to lead his people to victory.

Joshua had been preparing to fight in order to enter the city of Jericho. God gave him an alternative plan of action, though. It required neither bloodshed nor casualty, and it ultimately led them to victory! We should imitate Joshua and let God overrule our plans with better plans.

Culled from Meditations for Financial Freedom Vol. 2.