Friends, I want you to do something with me right now. Close your eyes for just a moment and imagine you're standing outside on a clear night, far away from the city lights. The sky above you is absolutely breathtaking—thousands upon thousands of stars scattered across the heavens like diamonds on black velvet. The Milky Way stretches overhead in a magnificent band of light. And as you stand there, looking up at that vast expanse, you feel small. Insignificant. Humbled by the sheer magnitude of God's creation.

Friends, I want you to do something with me right now. Close your eyes for just a moment and imagine you're standing outside on a clear night, far away from the city lights. The sky above you is absolutely breathtaking—thousands upon thousands of stars scattered across the heavens like diamonds on black velvet. The Milky Way stretches overhead in a magnificent band of light. And as you stand there, looking up at that vast expanse, you feel small. Insignificant. Humbled by the sheer magnitude of God's creation.

Now, here's what amazes me about that starry sky: Every single star you see is moving with absolute precision. They're not wandering aimlessly. They're not lost in space. They're following exact paths that God set in motion at the beginning of time. Psalm 147:4 tells us that God "determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name." He knows every star. He guides every celestial body. He has a plan and a purpose for everything He's created.

And here's the question that's been burning in my heart this week, the question I believe God wants me to ask you today: If God has such a specific plan for the stars in the sky, don't you think He has a specific plan for your life? If He guides galaxies with such precision, don't you think He wants to guide your steps with the same intentionality?

I've been in ministry for twenty-five years now, and for twenty of those years I've specialized in restoration work—helping people rebuild their lives after they've crashed and burned, after their dreams have died, after their plans have failed spectacularly. And I can tell you something I've learned from walking with hundreds of people through their darkest valleys: The difference between people who experience transformation and people who stay stuck isn't talent, education, or even opportunity. The difference is whether they've learned to align their goals with God's will.

Let me read you a verse that changed my life when I first truly understood it. Proverbs 16:3 says: "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans." Did you hear that? Commit your work to the Lord, and He will establish your plans. Not maybe. Not if you're lucky. Not if the circumstances are right. He WILL establish your plans. That's a promise. That's a guarantee. That's God's Word.

But here's where most people miss it, where they get tripped up, where their transformation stalls out: They want God to bless their plans without first committing those plans to Him. They want divine results using human methods. They want heaven's achievement while maintaining earth's control. And it doesn't work that way. It never has, and it never will.

See, aligning your goals with God's will isn't just about asking God to rubber-stamp what you've already decided to do. It's not about praying over your plans and then expecting God to make them succeed. No, my friends. Aligning your goals with God's will requires something much more fundamental, much more transformative, much more difficult: It requires humility.

And this is where I need to get real with you, where the message might make you uncomfortable, where the truth might step on some toes. Because humility is not something our culture values. We live in a world that celebrates self-promotion, self-confidence, self-actualization. We're told to believe in ourselves, trust our instincts, follow our hearts. And while there's nothing inherently wrong with having confidence, here's what twenty years of restoration ministry has taught me: Self-directed confidence without God-centered humility leads to self-inflicted disaster.

Listen to what Scripture says in Philippians 2:3-4: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." Do nothing out of selfish ambition. That's a tall order in our achievement-obsessed culture, isn't it? We're taught from childhood to climb the ladder, get ahead, make a name for ourselves. But God's Word says to do nothing—absolutely nothing—out of selfish ambition.

Why? Because selfish ambition is about building your own kingdom. And you cannot simultaneously build your kingdom and seek God's kingdom. You cannot serve two masters. You cannot pursue your glory and God's glory at the same time. You must choose.

And here's what humility does: Humility says, "God, I surrender my plans to Your plans. I submit my goals to Your will. I acknowledge that You see what I cannot see, You know what I do not know, and Your way is better than my way." That's humility. And that's the starting point for transformation.

But let me tell you something that might surprise you: Humility doesn't mean you stop having goals or ambitions. It doesn't mean you become passive or lazy. It doesn't mean you stop planning for the future. No! Humility means you bring your goals, your ambitions, your plans to God and say, "Lord, are these aligned with Your will? Are these what You want for my life? And if they're not, I'm willing to let them go and embrace what You have instead."

I remember counseling a young man several years ago—I'll call him Marcus. Marcus came to our restoration ministry with big dreams. He wanted to be a successful entrepreneur, make a lot of money, build a business empire. And there was nothing wrong with those goals in themselves. But as we talked, it became clear that Marcus's dreams were all about Marcus. They were about proving himself, impressing others, achieving success on his own terms.

And I asked him a simple question: "Marcus, have you ever asked God what He wants you to do with your life?" And he looked at me like I'd asked him to solve a complex math equation. He genuinely hadn't considered it. He'd assumed that if he worked hard enough, God would bless his efforts. He'd never stopped to ask if his goals were aligned with God's will.

We spent months working through this together. And slowly, Marcus began to humble himself before God. He began to bring his plans to the Lord and ask, "Is this what You want?" And you know what happened? God didn't destroy Marcus's entrepreneurial dreams. He redirected them. Instead of building a business empire for his own glory, Marcus started a company that provides job training and employment opportunities for people coming out of prison, out of addiction recovery programs, out of homelessness.

Today, Marcus's business is thriving. He's making a good living. But more importantly, he's making a difference. He's using his entrepreneurial gifts to serve God's purposes, to restore broken lives, to give second chances to people society has written off. That's what happens when you align your goals with God's will. That's what transformation looks like.

But here's something else I need to address, something that's absolutely critical if you're going to experience this kind of transformation: You cannot align your goals with God's will while harboring unforgiveness in your heart. It's impossible. Let me say that again because it's so important: You cannot move forward into God's purposes for your life while holding onto bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness from your past.

Jesus makes this crystal clear in Matthew 6:14-15: "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Those are strong words, aren't they? Jesus isn't suggesting that forgiveness is optional. He's saying it's essential. It's non-negotiable. It's a requirement for experiencing God's forgiveness and moving forward in His purposes.

Why is forgiveness so critical to achieving your God-aligned goals? Because unforgiveness keeps you chained to your past. It keeps you focused on what was done to you instead of what God wants to do through you. It consumes your emotional and spiritual energy—energy that should be directed toward fulfilling your divine purpose. Unforgiveness is like trying to drive forward while constantly looking in the rearview mirror. You might make some progress, but you're going to crash eventually.

I've seen this play out so many times in restoration ministry. People come to me with big dreams, genuine desires to serve God, sincere intentions to make a difference. But they're stuck. They're spinning their wheels. They're working hard but not making progress. And when we dig deeper, we almost always find unforgiveness somewhere in their story. A parent who wounded them. A spouse who betrayed them. A business partner who cheated them. A friend who abandoned them. And that unforgiveness has become a chain that holds them captive to their past.

Ephesians 4:32 gives us the prescription: "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Just as Christ forgave you. That's the standard. That's the model. That's the motivation. You don't forgive because people deserve it. You forgive because Christ forgave you when you didn't deserve it. And when you release others from the debt they owe you, you release yourself from the prison of bitterness.

Let me tell you about a woman I'll call Jennifer. Jennifer had every reason to be bitter. Her husband had abandoned her and their three children for another woman. He'd left her with massive debt and no support. She'd struggled for years as a single mother, working multiple jobs, barely making ends meet. And when she came to our ministry, she was angry. Deeply, rightfully angry.

But here's what I told Jennifer, and here's what I need to tell you today: You have every right to be angry about what was done to you. But you don't have to let that anger define your future. You can acknowledge the pain, feel the grief, recognize the injustice—and still choose to forgive. Not because the person who hurt you deserves it, but because you deserve to be free.

It took time. It took prayer. It took a lot of tears and courageous choices. But Jennifer eventually chose to forgive her ex-husband. And when she did, something remarkable happened. The goals and dreams she'd buried under her bitterness began to resurface. She'd always wanted to work with children, to make a difference in young lives. And as she released her unforgiveness, God began to open doors.

Today, Jennifer runs a nonprofit that provides after-school programs and mentoring for children from single-parent families. She's using her pain to help others, her experience to serve God's purposes. She's achieving things she never thought possible, not because she became stronger or smarter or more talented, but because she humbled herself, forgave others, and aligned her goals with God's will.

This is what Colossians 3:13 means when it says: "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Bear with each other. That means it's an ongoing process. Forgiveness isn't a one-time event—it's a daily choice. And when you make that choice consistently, when you keep releasing others and releasing your past, you create space for God to do something new in your life.

Now, let me connect all of this together and show you how humility and forgiveness lead to transformation. When you humble yourself before God and forgive those who've hurt you, you position yourself to receive divine wisdom. And that wisdom is essential for setting goals that truly align with God's will.

Proverbs 11:2 puts it this way: "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." With humility comes wisdom. Not just knowledge. Not just information. Wisdom—the ability to see life from God's perspective, to make decisions that honor Him, to set goals that accomplish His purposes.

And here's what I've discovered in twenty-five years of ministry: When you combine humility with forgiveness and align your goals with God's will, something supernatural happens. God doesn't just bless your efforts—He exceeds your expectations. He does more than you asked or imagined. He takes your surrendered plans and accomplishes things you never thought possible.

First Peter 5:5-6 gives us both a warning and a promise: "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." Did you catch that? God opposes the proud. He doesn't just ignore them or overlook them—He actively opposes them. But He shows favor to the humble. And if you humble yourself under His mighty hand, He will lift you up in due time.

That's the promise. That's the guarantee. That's what transformation looks like. You humble yourself. You forgive others. You align your goals with God's will. And in His perfect timing, He lifts you up and establishes your plans. Not for your glory, but for His. Not to make you famous, but to make you faithful. Not to build your kingdom, but to advance His.

So let me get intensely practical with you. How do you actually do this? How do you align your goals with God's will? How do you move from theory to transformation? Let me give you some steps you can take today—right now—to begin this process.

First, take inventory of your current goals. Write them down. Be honest. What are you really working toward? What gets you up in the morning? What keeps you awake at night? What would success look like to you? Don't edit yourself. Don't spiritualize it yet. Just be honest about what you're currently pursuing.

Second, bring those goals before God in prayer. And I don't mean a quick "bless my plans" prayer. I mean really bring them before Him. Ask Him, "Lord, are these goals aligned with Your will for my life? Are these what You want me to pursue? Or are they driven by selfish ambition, by comparison with others, by trying to prove something or earn something or achieve something apart from You?"

Third, examine your heart for unforgiveness. Is there anyone you need to forgive? Any bitterness you need to release? Any resentment you need to let go of? Because I promise you, if unforgiveness is present, it's blocking your ability to move forward in God's purposes. Deal with it today. Not tomorrow. Not when you feel like it. Today.

Fourth, humble yourself and invite God to redirect your goals if necessary. This is the hardest step, the one where pride fights back. Because it means saying, "God, if my goals are not aligned with Your will, I'm willing to let them go. I'm willing to embrace what You have instead, even if it's different from what I planned, even if it's smaller than I hoped, even if it requires me to start over completely."

And fifth, take one step of obedience today. Don't wait until you have everything figured out. Don't wait until the path is perfectly clear. Just take one step in the direction God is showing you. Maybe it's having a conversation you've been avoiding. Maybe it's applying for a position that would allow you to use your gifts for kingdom purposes. Maybe it's starting to tithe or volunteer or serve in some way. Whatever that one step is, take it today.

Because here's what I know from two decades of restoration work: God doesn't reveal the entire path upfront. He reveals the next step. And when you take that step in faith, He reveals the step after that. And step by step, in humility and obedience, with a forgiving heart and surrendered will, He transforms your walk with God.

Look up at that starry sky tonight. Remember that the God who guides those stars with such precision wants to guide your life with the same intentionality. He has plans for you—plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future, as Jeremiah 29:11 promises. But those plans require your cooperation. They require your humility. They require your willingness to forgive. They require your commitment to align your goals with His will.

And when you do that—when you humble yourself, forgive others, and surrender your plans to God—watch what happens. He will exceed your expectations. He will accomplish things through you that you never thought possible. He will restore your soul's deepest desires by replacing them with His desires, which are infinitely better than anything you could have imagined on your own.

That's transformation. That's what it means to have your walk with God completely changed. Not through your effort or your striving or your determination, but through your surrender. Through your humility. Through your forgiveness. Through your willingness to say, "God, Your will, not mine. Your goals, not mine. Your kingdom, not mine."

Let me close with a prayer for you:

Father God, I lift up every person reading these words right now. You know their goals, their dreams, their ambitions. You know where they're stuck, where they're struggling, where they're trying to do things in their own strength. Lord, I pray for a spirit of humility to fall on them right now. Give them the courage to bring their goals before You and ask, "Is this what You want?" Give them the grace to forgive anyone who has hurt them, to release any bitterness or resentment that's blocking their progress. And give them the faith to take that next step of obedience, trusting that You will establish their plans as they commit their work to You. Transform their walk with You, Lord. Exceed their expectations. Restore their soul's deepest desires by replacing them with Your desires. We ask this in the mighty name of Jesus, who humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross so that we might have life abundant. Amen.

Friends, your transformation starts with a choice. The choice to humble yourself. The choice to forgive. The choice to align your goals with God's will. Will you make that choice today? Not tomorrow. Not someday. Today.

And if this message has touched your heart, I want to ask you to do something. Share it with someone who needs to hear it. Forward it to that friend who's stuck in their career. Send it to that family member who's still holding onto bitterness. Post it for that colleague who's chasing success but missing purpose. Because transformation is contagious. When you experience it, you become a carrier of hope to others.

And if you've been blessed by this ministry of restoration, if God has used these words to speak to your heart, I invite you to partner with us in reaching more lives at The Restoration Point. Visit www.therestorationpoint.com to find resources, community, and support for your transformation journey. Your prayers matter. Your support matters. Your partnership matters. Together, we can see more lives transformed, more goals aligned with God's will, more people walking in the fullness of their divine purpose.

The stars are waiting. The path is clear. God is calling. Will you answer? Will you humble yourself? Will you forgive? Will you surrender your goals to His will? The choice is yours. But I can promise you this: If you'll take that step of faith, if you'll trust Him with your plans, He will do more than you could ask or imagine. He will transform your walk with God. He will restore your soul. He will exceed every expectation.

That's not just a sermon promise. That's God's Word. That's His guarantee. That's the transformation He offers to every person who will humble themselves, forgive others, and align their goals with His perfect will.

Your transformed walk starts today. Right here. Right now. Will you take that first step?, here's what amazes me about that starry sky: Every single star you see is moving with absolute precision. They're not wandering aimlessly. They're not lost in space. They're following exact paths that God set in motion at the beginning of time. Psalm 147:4 tells us that God "determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name." He knows every star. He guides every celestial body. He has a plan and a purpose for everything He's created.

And here's the question that's been burning in my heart this week, the question I believe God wants me to ask you today: If God has such a specific plan for the stars in the sky, don't you think He has a specific plan for your life? If He guides galaxies with such precision, don't you think He wants to guide your steps with the same intentionality?

I've been in ministry for twenty-five years now, and for twenty of those years I've specialized in restoration work—helping people rebuild their lives after they've crashed and burned, after their dreams have died, after their plans have failed spectacularly. And I can tell you something I've learned from walking with hundreds of people through their darkest valleys: The difference between people who experience transformation and people who stay stuck isn't talent, education, or even opportunity. The difference is whether they've learned to align their goals with God's will.

Let me read you a verse that changed my life when I first truly understood it. Proverbs 16:3 says: "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans." Did you hear that? Commit your work to the Lord, and He will establish your plans. Not maybe. Not if you're lucky. Not if the circumstances are right. He WILL establish your plans. That's a promise. That's a guarantee. That's God's Word.

But here's where most people miss it, where they get tripped up, where their transformation stalls out: They want God to bless their plans without first committing those plans to Him. They want divine results using human methods. They want heaven's achievement while maintaining earth's control. And it doesn't work that way. It never has, and it never will.

See, aligning your goals with God's will isn't just about asking God to rubber-stamp what you've already decided to do. It's not about praying over your plans and then expecting God to make them succeed. No, my friends. Aligning your goals with God's will requires something much more fundamental, much more transformative, much more difficult: It requires humility.

And this is where I need to get real with you, where the message might make you uncomfortable, where the truth might step on some toes. Because humility is not something our culture values. We live in a world that celebrates self-promotion, self-confidence, self-actualization. We're told to believe in ourselves, trust our instincts, follow our hearts. And while there's nothing inherently wrong with having confidence, here's what twenty years of restoration ministry has taught me: Self-directed confidence without God-centered humility leads to self-inflicted disaster.

Listen to what Scripture says in Philippians 2:3-4: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." Do nothing out of selfish ambition. That's a tall order in our achievement-obsessed culture, isn't it? We're taught from childhood to climb the ladder, get ahead, make a name for ourselves. But God's Word says to do nothing—absolutely nothing—out of selfish ambition.

Why? Because selfish ambition is about building your own kingdom. And you cannot simultaneously build your kingdom and seek God's kingdom. You cannot serve two masters. You cannot pursue your glory and God's glory at the same time. You must choose.

And here's what humility does: Humility says, "God, I surrender my plans to Your plans. I submit my goals to Your will. I acknowledge that You see what I cannot see, You know what I do not know, and Your way is better than my way." That's humility. And that's the starting point for transformation.

But let me tell you something that might surprise you: Humility doesn't mean you stop having goals or ambitions. It doesn't mean you become passive or lazy. It doesn't mean you stop planning for the future. No! Humility means you bring your goals, your ambitions, your plans to God and say, "Lord, are these aligned with Your will? Are these what You want for my life? And if they're not, I'm willing to let them go and embrace what You have instead."

I remember counseling a young man several years ago—I'll call him Marcus. Marcus came to our restoration ministry with big dreams. He wanted to be a successful entrepreneur, make a lot of money, build a business empire. And there was nothing wrong with those goals in themselves. But as we talked, it became clear that Marcus's dreams were all about Marcus. They were about proving himself, impressing others, achieving success on his own terms.

And I asked him a simple question: "Marcus, have you ever asked God what He wants you to do with your life?" And he looked at me like I'd asked him to solve a complex math equation. He genuinely hadn't considered it. He'd assumed that if he worked hard enough, God would bless his efforts. He'd never stopped to ask if his goals were aligned with God's will.

We spent months working through this together. And slowly, Marcus began to humble himself before God. He began to bring his plans to the Lord and ask, "Is this what You want?" And you know what happened? God didn't destroy Marcus's entrepreneurial dreams. He redirected them. Instead of building a business empire for his own glory, Marcus started a company that provides job training and employment opportunities for people coming out of prison, out of addiction recovery programs, out of homelessness.

Today, Marcus's business is thriving. He's making a good living. But more importantly, he's making a difference. He's using his entrepreneurial gifts to serve God's purposes, to restore broken lives, to give second chances to people society has written off. That's what happens when you align your goals with God's will. That's what transformation looks like.

But here's something else I need to address, something that's absolutely critical if you're going to experience this kind of transformation: You cannot align your goals with God's will while harboring unforgiveness in your heart. It's impossible. Let me say that again because it's so important: You cannot move forward into God's purposes for your life while holding onto bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness from your past.

Jesus makes this crystal clear in Matthew 6:14-15: "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Those are strong words, aren't they? Jesus isn't suggesting that forgiveness is optional. He's saying it's essential. It's non-negotiable. It's a requirement for experiencing God's forgiveness and moving forward in His purposes.

Why is forgiveness so critical to achieving your God-aligned goals? Because unforgiveness keeps you chained to your past. It keeps you focused on what was done to you instead of what God wants to do through you. It consumes your emotional and spiritual energy—energy that should be directed toward fulfilling your divine purpose. Unforgiveness is like trying to drive forward while constantly looking in the rearview mirror. You might make some progress, but you're going to crash eventually.

I've seen this play out so many times in restoration ministry. People come to me with big dreams, genuine desires to serve God, sincere intentions to make a difference. But they're stuck. They're spinning their wheels. They're working hard but not making progress. And when we dig deeper, we almost always find unforgiveness somewhere in their story. A parent who wounded them. A spouse who betrayed them. A business partner who cheated them. A friend who abandoned them. And that unforgiveness has become a chain that holds them captive to their past.

Ephesians 4:32 gives us the prescription: "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Just as Christ forgave you. That's the standard. That's the model. That's the motivation. You don't forgive because people deserve it. You forgive because Christ forgave you when you didn't deserve it. And when you release others from the debt they owe you, you release yourself from the prison of bitterness.

Let me tell you about a woman I'll call Jennifer. Jennifer had every reason to be bitter. Her husband had abandoned her and their three children for another woman. He'd left her with massive debt and no support. She'd struggled for years as a single mother, working multiple jobs, barely making ends meet. And when she came to our ministry, she was angry. Deeply, rightfully angry.

But here's what I told Jennifer, and here's what I need to tell you today: You have every right to be angry about what was done to you. But you don't have to let that anger define your future. You can acknowledge the pain, feel the grief, recognize the injustice—and still choose to forgive. Not because the person who hurt you deserves it, but because you deserve to be free.

It took time. It took prayer. It took a lot of tears and courageous choices. But Jennifer eventually chose to forgive her ex-husband. And when she did, something remarkable happened. The goals and dreams she'd buried under her bitterness began to resurface. She'd always wanted to work with children, to make a difference in young lives. And as she released her unforgiveness, God began to open doors.

Today, Jennifer runs a nonprofit that provides after-school programs and mentoring for children from single-parent families. She's using her pain to help others, her experience to serve God's purposes. She's achieving things she never thought possible, not because she became stronger or smarter or more talented, but because she humbled herself, forgave others, and aligned her goals with God's will.

This is what Colossians 3:13 means when it says: "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Bear with each other. That means it's an ongoing process. Forgiveness isn't a one-time event—it's a daily choice. And when you make that choice consistently, when you keep releasing others and releasing your past, you create space for God to do something new in your life.

Now, let me connect all of this together and show you how humility and forgiveness lead to transformation. When you humble yourself before God and forgive those who've hurt you, you position yourself to receive divine wisdom. And that wisdom is essential for setting goals that truly align with God's will.

Proverbs 11:2 puts it this way: "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." With humility comes wisdom. Not just knowledge. Not just information. Wisdom—the ability to see life from God's perspective, to make decisions that honor Him, to set goals that accomplish His purposes.

And here's what I've discovered in twenty-five years of ministry: When you combine humility with forgiveness and align your goals with God's will, something supernatural happens. God doesn't just bless your efforts—He exceeds your expectations. He does more than you asked or imagined. He takes your surrendered plans and accomplishes things you never thought possible.

First Peter 5:5-6 gives us both a warning and a promise: "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." Did you catch that? God opposes the proud. He doesn't just ignore them or overlook them—He actively opposes them. But He shows favor to the humble. And if you humble yourself under His mighty hand, He will lift you up in due time.

That's the promise. That's the guarantee. That's what transformation looks like. You humble yourself. You forgive others. You align your goals with God's will. And in His perfect timing, He lifts you up and establishes your plans. Not for your glory, but for His. Not to make you famous, but to make you faithful. Not to build your kingdom, but to advance His.

So let me get intensely practical with you. How do you actually do this? How do you align your goals with God's will? How do you move from theory to transformation? Let me give you some steps you can take today—right now—to begin this process.

First, take inventory of your current goals. Write them down. Be honest. What are you really working toward? What gets you up in the morning? What keeps you awake at night? What would success look like to you? Don't edit yourself. Don't spiritualize it yet. Just be honest about what you're currently pursuing.

Second, bring those goals before God in prayer. And I don't mean a quick "bless my plans" prayer. I mean really bring them before Him. Ask Him, "Lord, are these goals aligned with Your will for my life? Are these what You want me to pursue? Or are they driven by selfish ambition, by comparison with others, by trying to prove something or earn something or achieve something apart from You?"

Third, examine your heart for unforgiveness. Is there anyone you need to forgive? Any bitterness you need to release? Any resentment you need to let go of? Because I promise you, if unforgiveness is present, it's blocking your ability to move forward in God's purposes. Deal with it today. Not tomorrow. Not when you feel like it. Today.

Fourth, humble yourself and invite God to redirect your goals if necessary. This is the hardest step, the one where pride fights back. Because it means saying, "God, if my goals are not aligned with Your will, I'm willing to let them go. I'm willing to embrace what You have instead, even if it's different from what I planned, even if it's smaller than I hoped, even if it requires me to start over completely."

And fifth, take one step of obedience today. Don't wait until you have everything figured out. Don't wait until the path is perfectly clear. Just take one step in the direction God is showing you. Maybe it's having a conversation you've been avoiding. Maybe it's applying for a position that would allow you to use your gifts for kingdom purposes. Maybe it's starting to tithe or volunteer or serve in some way. Whatever that one step is, take it today.

Because here's what I know from two decades of restoration work: God doesn't reveal the entire path upfront. He reveals the next step. And when you take that step in faith, He reveals the step after that. And step by step, in humility and obedience, with a forgiving heart and surrendered will, He transforms your walk with God.

Look up at that starry sky tonight. Remember that the God who guides those stars with such precision wants to guide your life with the same intentionality. He has plans for you—plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future, as Jeremiah 29:11 promises. But those plans require your cooperation. They require your humility. They require your willingness to forgive. They require your commitment to align your goals with His will.

And when you do that—when you humble yourself, forgive others, and surrender your plans to God—watch what happens. He will exceed your expectations. He will accomplish things through you that you never thought possible. He will restore your soul's deepest desires by replacing them with His desires, which are infinitely better than anything you could have imagined on your own.

That's transformation. That's what it means to have your walk with God completely changed. Not through your effort or your striving or your determination, but through your surrender. Through your humility. Through your forgiveness. Through your willingness to say, "God, Your will, not mine. Your goals, not mine. Your kingdom, not mine."

Let me close with a prayer for you:

Father God, I lift up every person reading these words right now. You know their goals, their dreams, their ambitions. You know where they're stuck, where they're struggling, where they're trying to do things in their own strength. Lord, I pray for a spirit of humility to fall on them right now. Give them the courage to bring their goals before You and ask, "Is this what You want?" Give them the grace to forgive anyone who has hurt them, to release any bitterness or resentment that's blocking their progress. And give them the faith to take that next step of obedience, trusting that You will establish their plans as they commit their work to You. Transform their walk with You, Lord. Exceed their expectations. Restore their soul's deepest desires by replacing them with Your desires. We ask this in the mighty name of Jesus, who humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross so that we might have life abundant. Amen.

Friends, your transformation starts with a choice. The choice to humble yourself. The choice to forgive. The choice to align your goals with God's will. Will you make that choice today? Not tomorrow. Not someday. Today.

And if this message has touched your heart, I want to ask you to do something. Share it with someone who needs to hear it. Forward it to that friend who's stuck in their career. Send it to that family member who's still holding onto bitterness. Post it for that colleague who's chasing success but missing purpose. Because transformation is contagious. When you experience it, you become a carrier of hope to others.

And if you've been blessed by this ministry of restoration, if God has used these words to speak to your heart, I invite you to partner with us in reaching more lives at The Restoration Point. Visit www.therestorationpoint.com to find resources, community, and support for your transformation journey. Your prayers matter. Your support matters. Your partnership matters. Together, we can see more lives transformed, more goals aligned with God's will, more people walking in the fullness of their divine purpose.

The stars are waiting. The path is clear. God is calling. Will you answer? Will you humble yourself? Will you forgive? Will you surrender your goals to His will? The choice is yours. But I can promise you this: If you'll take that step of faith, if you'll trust Him with your plans, He will do more than you could ask or imagine. He will transform your walk with God. He will restore your soul. He will exceed every expectation.

That's not just a sermon promise. That's God's Word. That's His guarantee. That's the transformation He offers to every person who will humble themselves, forgive others, and align their goals with His perfect will.

Your transformed walk starts today. Right here. Right now. Will you take that first step?

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