Ultimately, the principle to understand is this … to be successful in life you must be proactive rather than reactive. You have to have a plan and a process rather than simply float through life reacting to every circumstance that happens to come along.
Proverbs 14:8 states … “The prudent understand where they are going, but fools deceive themselves.” In other words, the wise can look into the future to see where they want to be, or more importantly, where God wants them to be.
With that said, here are a few biblical principles on setting goals.
Your goals should be pleasing to the Lord. This is foundational. Our goals should be focused on God and His Kingdom, not on ourselves. Many people fail at reaching their goals because they are motivated by selfishness.
So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.
II Corinthians 5:9 (NLT)
You should pray about your goals. Before you set any goals, ask God what in your life needs to change. When He answers, make those your goals.
Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3 (NLT)
Your goals should be realistic. Don’t set yourself up for failure by selecting goals that are impractical and unattainable. You’ll become discouraged and give up. Work hard at planning realistic goals.
Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. Proverbs 21:5 (NLT)
You should define specific steps and set a completion date for each goal. Jesus had a plan for everything He did. There was never a time when He “winged” it. Achieving goals is a process and every process has a completion.
Those too lazy to plow in the right season
will have no food at the harvest.
Proverbs 20:4 (NLT)
You should monitor your goals. This is key. The goal of monitoring is evaluating consistency. Goals aren’t met in large chunks. They are met in incremental stages. A very important tool here is having someone holding you accountable. Get some help!
Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life. Proverbs 19:20-21 (NLT)
You should never quit. You are going to have some rough days. You may take a step backward. But you must never quit. If God revealed this goal for you, He will help you until the end.
We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy. James 5:11 (NLT)
There are several categories from which you can select your goals for 2014. Use the list below and try to set at least one goal from each category.
- Spiritual Goals (Proverbs 3:5-6)
- Family Goals (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
- Physical Goals (I Timothy 4:8)
- Social Goals (Romans 12:13)
- Work Goals (Proverbs 14:23)
- Financial Goals (Proverbs 3:9-10)
- Wisdom Goals (Proverbs 24:3)
- Recreational Goals (Ecclesiastes 8:15)
One final thought to encourage you with. Take a moment and imagine what 2015 could look like if all of your goals for 2014 are accomplished.
Here is my commitment to you … if you share with me your goals for 2014 I will send you a reminder in a month or two and see how you are doing (if not with me, share them with someone to help you along the way).
Randy Harp 