Faith-based goal setting is a powerful tool that you can use to live a more purposeful life that is in alignment with God. Having clear, achievable SMART goals or wellness goals is a strategy to keep you motivated and focused on living the life God has planned for you.
So how do you go about setting faith-based goals as a christian that are in alignment with God’s plan for your life? Keep reading to learn the 5 steps of Forks and Grace’s goal setting process to help you get started!
According to Dictionary.com, goals are the result or achievement toward which effort is directed.
Having goals, whether they are mini goals, daily goals, weekly goals, monthly goals, or yearly goals, can help you accomplish many things in your life.
Setting goals doesn’t mean that you don’t trust God. Setting goals can help you stay focused and motivated to complete the tasks that God needs you to in order to better serve Him and glorify Him.
There are two different types of goals: short term goals and long term goals.
- Short term goal – a goal you want to accomplish fairly soon. These goals are usually the building blocks for long term goals.
- Long term goal – a goal you are planning to accomplish in the future. These goals usually help you find direction or purpose in your life.
Why is Goal Setting Important?
Goals are like a map. They help you plan out what you need to get done and when you need to get those tasks done. Without having goals, you might feel lost and unable to connect with God on where He needs you to go next.
I personally believe that God likes a “goal getter” because that person will be focused and motivated to fulfill tasks that need to get done. Goal setting becomes an issue when you stop seeking God.
It is important that your goals glorify God. You shouldn’t be setting goals that are pleasing to man or society, your goals should be pleasing to God and in alignment with Him.
Keep scrolling to read through the Goal Setting Process that Forks and Grace uses to help people align their physical and spiritual wellness goals with God.
Step #1 – Root Your Goal in God
As we learn from 1 Corinthians 10:31 – everything you do should be for the glory of God. That includes setting goals.
If your goals are not rooted in God, then what purpose do they even serve in your life?
You need to put God first in everything you do. When you are setting a goal, I want you to ask yourself “why does God want me to achieve this goal”. If you can’t answer this question then chances are your goal is not actually rooted in God.
Step #2 – Ask God for Guidance
For this step, I want you to pray about your goals and ask God to give you guidance when accomplishing them and motivation to continue to work towards them. Or to block the goal if it doesn’t align with your spirit.
God will give you guidance whether you are working on your personal goals, work goals, spiritual goals, financial goals, and more. Start your goal setting process by asking God to place his hand on every area of your life and then lean into His guidance for the rest of your goal setting session.
Step #3 – Set a SMART Goal
Your goals may take several days, months, even years to accomplish. You can’t expect a “quick fix”. The key to goal setting is consistency, self-discipline, and setting SMART goals!
- Specific — Your goal should be simple but important
- Measurable — Your goal should be trackable
- Attainable — Your goal should be realistic and achievable
- Relevant — Your goal should matter to you
- Time-Bound — Your goal should have a deadline
When you are creating your SMART goals, I want you to reflect on this question… Is this goal for the flesh or the spirit?
Step #4 – Stay Obedient
Deuteronomy 5:33 tells us to Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.
The “land” that you are trying to possess right now is your goal.
As you are reaching your goals, I want you to reflect on how God has been testing your obedience and whether you trusted His guidance during the process.
Step #5 – Keep a Sound Mind
There will be tests and there will be temptations, but how you handle the obstacles and challenges you will face on your journey is what God is going to notice.
He wants to know your heart and your character. So keeping a sound mind (positive mindset) is an important step in the goal setting process.
Now that you have read about the 5 step goal setting process, check out these examples to help you get started!
Examples of Personal Goals
- I will eat 3 servings of vegetables for dinner at least 5 days a week.
- I will deep clean the kitchen 24 hours before guests come to my house for our monthly bible study in May.
Examples of Spiritual Goals
- I will read 1 chapter from the New Testaments every month this year.
- I will wake up at 6:30am every weekday morning to spend time in prayer with God and write my reflections for my bible verse of the day before getting ready for work.
Your Goals May Change
Before you start setting your own goals, I want you to know that it is okay for your goals to change. In life you will go through different seasons and circumstances and that is okay.
God might make minor or drastic shifts in your life and so you might have to shift your goals based on what God needs from you… and that is okay!
God needs you to stay focused and full of strength to live a purposeful life and using this goal setting process is a great strategy to get you to where He needs you to be.
Join the Fuel Up Faith Program
And if you want to learn more about setting goals with God to improve both your physical and spiritual health – consider joining the Fuel Up Faith program.
This program was created to help you change your mindset around what healthy nutrition habits look like for you, build a positive relationship with food through God’s Words, and experience a transformation from the inside out in both your physical and spiritual health.
Need help building a nutrition plan that meets your lifestyle needs and is in alignment with God? Check out the Fuel Up Faith Program now!
