5 Tips for Christian Goals

                Setting goals is critical to success. While great things sometimes happen unexpectedly most success in life comes from the pursuit of solid, realistic goals. A student sets a goal of graduating from college with a 4.0 grade point average or a salesman a goal of exceeding his own sales every year. An athlete runs faster because he set specific goals for his time in races. All of these are examples of goal setting in life.

Goal setting also works in the spiritual realm. Christians set goals of reading through the Bible in a year. Some read it through two or three times a year. In the Fishers of Men program participants are taught to set a goal of making a certain number of contacts every week. Churches grow when specific goals for growth are set before the congregation. Goal setting works.

Set Your Goal by Identifying Your Deepest Spiritual Need

                This is actually pretty easy for most people. The hardest part is being honest with ourselves. We reason that we are in pretty good shape spiritually so there is no real need to set any spiritual goal. But inside we know better. We struggle against a host of spiritual problems every day. Some are of our own making and others thrust upon us by an evil world. We know those problems and are intimately acquainted with  every spiritual obstacle thrust before us. We know our needs but sometimes we don’t want to admit our weaknesses.

Every Christian can become stronger, more faithful, more knowledgeable and more evangelistic. The writer of Hebrews speaks of “the sin which clings so closely” (Hebrews 12:1) and which must be laid aside. You have a sin like that don’t you? I do. It needs to go.

Set your goal by  Identifying your deepest spiritual need.

Choose goals That Can Be Reached – With Difficulty

Poet Robert Browning said, “A man’s reach should exceed his grasp.” I disagree, slightly. We  must be able to attain our goals else despair awaits.

For example, a person with on-again, off-again worship attendance might set a goal of attending every worship service for the next year. That may not be practicable for them. Illness or unavoidable work situations could easily wreck that goal. A more attainable goal might be to attend every worship service this month. Such a goal, when achieved would be a solid improvement and would build confidence for the next month. The key is to challenge yourself.

Choose goals that can be achieved with difficulty in improvement awaits. This applies to both physical and spiritual goals.

Be Very Specific With Your Goals

                “I will never sin again!” That goal is as admirable as it is unattainable. The Bible is clear, we have been, we are and will continue to be sinners (Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8; 1 John 1:5-10). So such a goal cannot be reached. But it is also vague. A successful goal must be precise. Instead we might say, “I will not gossip this week.” In fact, you may need to say, “I will not gossip with________ at lunch today.” This goal is very specific, well defined and very reasonable.

Sometimes we simply take larger desires and break them into smaller pieces. No one can eat a 16 ounce steak in one bite nor can we attain large goals at once. If a goal seems too big then it probably is. Break it down into smaller, specific goals. You will have greater success.

Be specific with your goals and you will greatly improve your odds of success.

Write Down Your Goals

                Someone has said, “Goals that are not written down are just wishes.”  Every Christian should write down their top 10 goals and keep them on their person every day. Remember God gave Moses the Law written on tablets of stone (Exodus 24:12). Writing your goals gives them permanence and importance. The act of writing them preserves the intent of the moment and will make it harder to change.

Keeping your goals with you serves as a great reminder of what you have committed to do. Of the Law of Moses the Hebrews were told to “bind them as a sign on your hand” (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) and to constantly teach the children. The Law was never far from them. Likewise, our goals ought always be close.

Write down your goals to reinforce its importance and permanence.

Pray About Your Goals Every Day

We can accomplish little in our secular life and nothing in our spiritual life apart from God’s help. When our goals are in tune with God’s plans and when we ask for His help, we can and will succeed. Remember the Lord’s promise, Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7). At the beginning of every day, take those written goals, read each and then seek God’s help to reach that goal.

This is not some magic ritual. You are asking for God to help you reach the goal. There is no expectation that he will do all the work. You have a part to play also. He is helping you. Make sure your goals are aligned with His plans and His way. Remember James’ warning, “You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions” (James 4:3).

Pray about your goals every day and discover a strength you never thought you had.

A month from now, or six months or a year, you will look back and be stunned at the improvements in your life because of goals that you set now. It will work. Give it a try!

 

3 comments On 5 Tips for Christian Goals

  • Pray, yes! God is always there to guide us, we have to make the effort and he surely would take us to right path.

  • One of the most important tasks of a business leader is to set and achieve goals. The Bible’s Book of Proverbs offers some of the richest guidance for living wisely. The word “proverb” means “to be like.” The sum of this wisdom is personified in the Lord Jesus Christ as the one we should model.What I’ve learned is that MAINTAIN BALANCE. “Do not overwork to be rich;
    Because of your own understanding, cease!” Proverbs 23:4. The responsibilities of a leader make it hard to exercise, eat right and spend enough time with family. When a leader takes their work home, does not sleep enough and takes too few vacations, judgment is impaired and dramatically reduces decision-making skills.

  • Great thoughts Ruth! There is so much truth in your comments. I hope you will come back and visit again!

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