This is part 3 of a 5-part series. View the entire series here.
“But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you.” – John 6:27 NLT
One of my favorite parts about starting a new year is sitting down and looking back over the past twelve months—what I accomplished, who I met, how I grew—and then looking ahead to the next twelve months to figure out what my next steps are.
Hopefully this is an exciting time for you, too. The new year is filled with such potential, and God has amazing things in store for you—but you are meant to play an active role in bringing those things about! Perhaps the most beneficial way to do that is through goal-setting.
The Importance of Goal-Setting
We are not meant to move through life with no purpose or direction, wasting the potential God has placed within each one of us. No matter who you are, if you’re in Christ, you have a call on your life. Broadly, it’s to glorify His name and build His Kingdom. But you have a specific calling, too, one that only you, through seeking God’s will, can discover and set in motion.
This is why setting God-honoring goals is so important.
Keep Love at the Center
Simply put, our goals should be focused on the things that will outlast this temporary life. In 1 Corinthians 13:13, Paul tells us exactly what will remain forever: “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (ESV). Faith and hope are crucial for getting through life on this side of eternity, but one day they won’t be necessary. When we’re with Jesus forever, there won’t be any more need for faith, any more need for hope.
But love is eternal. God’s love for us, our love for God, and our love for every person He’s placed in our path—all this love (and more) will be present in the already-but-not-yet Kingdom that we have a part, right here and now, in building.
How Do I Choose My Goals?
So what does that mean for goal-setting? It means all our goals should be rooted in love. They should point toward our present calling in this life—to love God and neighbor, to make disciples, to baptize and teach people about Christ—while also looking ahead to the future we have in Christ. Our goals should not be exclusively self-serving, nor should we, as Jesus said so plainly, concern ourselves with things that won’t be carried into the new creation: material possessions, monetary wealth, fame.
This doesn’t mean that every single goal you set has to be a large-scale, multi-step process. Some can be as simple as exercise for 30 minutes a day, or start a prayer journal. Even the smallest goals can have a significant impact on your life and your ability to serve God with a healthy body, heart, and mind.
A balance between short-term and long-term goals is also important. If you set only long-term goals, you’re more likely to get discouraged faster, because the fruit of your labor may not be evident for weeks, months, or even years to come. On the other hand, if you set only short-term goals, you’re more likely to lose sight of the big picture—of the greater calling God has on your whole life, not just your day-to-day.
Seek His Will
Remember to always seek God’s will as you’re setting both short-term and long-term goals. Ask Him before you make decisions, and then be obedient when He answers.
Pray over your goals, too! Prayerfully ask yourself why you’re setting a particular goal before you set it. Is it self-serving or God-serving? Is it eternity focused or right now focused?
Let God Lead
One final thought: When you seek God’s will, be prepared for the possibility that He will put something on your heart that you couldn’t have dreamed up on your own. This may be a scary thought, especially if you’re used to iron-gripping the reins of your life. But you can trust that if God’s in it, He’ll give you everything you need to be successful.
That’s the beauty of inviting God into every part of your life—including your goal-setting!
