We all have goals we want to meet. Things about our bodies that we want to change. And things that we want to accomplish.

The world will tell you to push yourself, don’t give up until you get what you want. Sacrifice sleep, your kids, or whatever it takes to get to where you want to be.

In a popular book on shelves right now, it says “decide that you care more about creating your magic and pushing it out into the world than you do about how it will be received.” 

But that’s not how Christians should view their goals. So today, I’m share how we can reach our goals God’s way.

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Seeking God in Your Goals

1 Corinthians 9:25-26 “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore, I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like boxer beating the air. No I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

For Christians, we’re called to be different from the world. And even our goal setting should look different. The world is setting goals to get a crown that won’t last (money, fame, power, the perfect body). But we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

We don’t just live for ourselves, we’re living with kingdom purpose. We have to look beyond normal goals and start to reach God’s plans for our lives.

Setting goals and meeting them must be more about what God wants instead of just what we want.

And what God wants is for everything we do to point others to Him.

Choose a Word & Verse

So where do we start?

Hebrews 10:35-36 “Therefore do not throw away your confidence which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.”

Start with praying about the direction that God wants you to take. Pray, read your Bible and seek The Lord for one word that speaks to your heart.

Ask God to give you a word and verse that you can meditate on that will keep you on the right track throughout the year.

In 2019, my word has been UNCOMFORTABLE and my verse is Isaiah 43:2, “When you pass through the waters I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

All this year, God has helped me get out of my comfort zone and not be afraid of tough stuff. My family and I have been through a lot already this year, including getting certified as foster parents.

If I were setting goals the way the world does, becoming a foster mom would have never been on the list.

But instead, I let God lead me, and I know I’m right in the middle of His will.

Divide Your Life into Categories

Once you’ve determined your word and verse, divide your life into categories.

Everyone’s life is different. A single woman with no kids will have a different focus that a married, mom of six kids.

There is no right or wrong in categories but some general ones would be:

• walk with God
• physical health
• family
• work
• hobbies
• finances

Consider how the word and verse you choose will relate to each category. For instance if you choose the word faithful, you can work towards spending time with the Lord everyday without fail, faithfully saving a certain amount of money per month, or reaching 10,000 steps each week day.

Again, pray about each category, let God lead you! It’s amazing how we can wonder what He wants us to do, but we never ask! He’ll be faithful to tell you what He wants you to do.

Set Actionable Tasks for Each Category

Once you have an idea of a simple goal for each category, it’s time to put some actions to those goals.

“The plans of the diligent surely lead to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5

Brainstorm ways that you can reach the goals that you’ve set for yourself.

If your goal is to read the Bible in a year, find resources (like my free digital Bible reading plan) to help you keep track.

Physical fitness is a goal for many, an actionable task could be to ask a friend to meet you to walk in the park every morning or hiring a personal trainer if needed.

Mom Tip: Focus on people. For every category on your list, work to think of others as well as yourself. If you’re striving for a better relationship with God, add “Read The Bible with My Kids” to your actions steps. If you are searching for purpose, discover how God can use your gifts to benefit others.

Things to Remember

Focus on the Lord

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for men.” Colossians 3:23

Now comes the hard part: acting on those goals and action steps.

Lean on the Lord. He will be your strength. Verses like Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” aren’t just there for kids to learn in Sunday School, they are there for us!

View Success the Way God Does

The way God views success isn’t the same as the way the world views it.

In God’s eyes, successful people are servants to others. He said, “The greatest among you will be your servant.” (Matthew 23:11)

If your ultimate goal is to be on the cover of Forbes magazine, it’s important to remember that God humbles those who exalt themselves.

If your goal is to build a company that helps people, treats it’s employees well, and gives God the glory for what He has done, then God may elevate you to the cover of Forbes, but don’t get discouraged if no one knows your name.

The important thing is that God does.

Remember to Yield to The Purpose of the Lord

Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”

To piggyback on the last point, remember that God may ask you to do something for a season or teach you something.

God may ask you to get out of your comfort zone and try something that doesn’t work. Just because something seems like a flop, doesn’t mean that there is nothing good that come out of it.

Nothing is wasted when it’s in the hands of God.

Want some great resources for rekindling your faith in the midst of your motherhood? Check out our free resource page HERE!