THE F.I.S.T. OF GOD: FINDING PURPOSE AND MAKING PROGRESS IN 2025

YOU CAN MAKE 2025 A YEAR OF PURPOSE, PROGRESS, AND DIVINE IMPACT TOO!

Let me clear the air right away: the F.I.S.T. doesn’t belong to God—it’s mine. Yep, I lied. I liked the catchy title, okay? But before you start judging me, know that if you complain too much, I might have to slug you with it. Stick with me; this metaphor is worth fighting for.

The F.I.S.T. is my quirky tool for living intentionally, managing the gifts that God has entrusted to me, and finally breaking free from the cycle of unfinished goals and unfulfilled expectations. It represents my approach to reclaiming control over four key areas: Finance, Intellect, Strength, and Time.

Before you imagine me shadowboxing in my living room, let me clarify. The F.I.S.T. isn’t about throwing punches—it’s about eliminating distractions, breaking bad habits, and letting go of anything that keeps me from fully living out the ministry God has given me. It’s a simple yet powerful framework to help me use my resources wisely, gain wisdom, strengthen my body and mind, and maximize the time God has entrusted to me.

If you’ve ever felt stuck—setting goals but never quite following through—then stay with me. This might be the tool you need to overcome procrastination and step boldly into God's purpose for you. Buckle up; this is going somewhere meaningful, even if it starts with my accidental sabbatical.

The Sabbatical I Didn’t Know I Needed

In December, I took two weeks off for what, in hindsight, I’ve come to call a sabbatical. At first, it was just a glorified vacation—I  wanted an excuse to read books, pray, and stare out the window without anyone asking if I was okay.

But before long, the usual New Year’s pressures set in—big plans, impressive resolutions, and the urge to prove (to myself and everyone else) that 2025 would be my best year ever. You know, the typical low bar. But this year felt different. Instead of planning to impress, I sensed God nudging me to slow down and ask a bigger question:

What ministry has God given me?

Cue Oswald Chambers, the spiritual heavyweight who decided to haunt me (via book, don’t worry):

“Have you received a ministry from the Lord? If so, you must be faithful to it—to consider your life valuable only for the purpose of fulfilling that ministry.”

Wow, Oswald. Way to turn a guy’s “I just want to read some books” vacation into a spiritual intervention.

Finding Purpose (My “Definite Chief Aim”)

Then I came across Napoleon Hill, the self-help guru from way back, who said:

“Finding one’s definite chief aim is the most decisive and important step in life.”

At 71, I figured it was about time I nailed mine down. After a lot of thinking, praying, and avoiding emails, I wrote this:

My definite chief aim is to live out the two greatest commandments – loving God and loving my neighbors.

As I reflected on what was holding me back, four areas of my life needed better stewardship:

·      Time

·      Strength (energy, will, discipline)

·      Intellect (including aspirations and ambitions)

·      Material possessions (my relationship to money and stuff)

This brought me to Finance, Intellect, Strength, and Time—not listed in order of importance but organized into a handy acronym: F.I.S.T. (because acronyms make everything sound more official, obviously).

How My F.I.S.T. Supports My Calling

After defining my aim, I wrote this:

I will prepare and remain ready to love God and my neighbors by wisely managing the resources of finance, intellect, strength, and time (F.I.S.T.) that God has entrusted to me. By achieving my FIST goals, I will free up time, energy, and financial resources for spiritual growth and meaningful impact.

My Commitments for 2025

·      Finance: Increase giving, reduce debt

·      Intellect:

Inward: Read one Christian, financial, or self-improvement book weekly

Outward: Write two blog posts per month

·      Strength: Improve physical vitality and emotional resilience.

·      Time:

Remember that my time belongs to God

Spend more time in prayer, devotion, and stillness.

The Hamster Wheel Dilemma

But here’s the thing—I’ve set similar goals before. And many of them fizzled out. Why?

I prayed for clarity, and God showed me that the problem wasn’t bad goals but bad habits—not outright sinful things, just distractions.

“There are things in each of these areas that are distracting you from your mission,” I sensed God saying. “If you abstain from them (even just partially), you will be far more successful in your calling.”

So, I took another hard look at my life. And here’s what I found:

The Distractions God Called Me to Address

Finance: Overspending on unnecessary stuff.

·      Solution: Reduce impulse purchases.

Intellect: Too much fiction and gaming, not enough learning.

·      Solution: Cut back on entertainment reading and screen time.

Strength: My vitality was low due to poor diet and inconsistent exercise

·      Solution: Stop late-night snacking, exercise five days a week, and eat better.

Time: Social media and online shopping were consuming too much of my time.

·      Solution: Set limits and track time using Apple’s Screen Time app.

My Challenge to You

Why am I sharing all this? Because I know I'm not the only one wrestling with distractions. Today's world bombards us with content, notifications, and endless ways to waste time. It’s easy to drift away from God’s calling without even realizing it.

The F.I.S.T. framework isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. It’s a way to reclaim your focus, energy, and purpose, one small step at a time.

So, here’s my challenge to you:

1.   Ask God about your ministry: What has He entrusted you with? This would be a great time to ask if you struggle with finding purpose.

2.   Identify your distractions: What’s pulling you off course?

3.   Commit to small changes: Start abstaining from one distraction a few days a week.

4.   Pray for strength: God wants to help—ask Him.

 

I’m Praying for Your Success

So, this year, I’m praying for success in both my ministry and yours.

I pray that you discover your purpose, shake off the distractions, and draw closer to God than ever before.

May this post be the metaphorical punch in the arm you need to step into your calling, and may 2025 be a year of purpose, progress, and divine impact for all of us!

Let’s make it count.