Five Steps for Goal Setting

I know it is already January 7th as I write this and many people have made New Year Resolutions that have already been broken--but I'll throw my two-cents into the ring. 

Let me share some brief thoughts to consider when you think about setting goals.  First, let’s deal with the why and then the how.

Why should we set goals?  Many people don’t like to set goals because it forces us to think, to be intentional, and setting goals makes us accountable thus giving the potential for failure.  What I have discovered is that I never achieve the goals I don’t set. 

I was struck by a comment by Mark Batterson when he said, “The brain is a goal-seeking organism.  When you set a goal, it creates structural tension in your brain, and the brain will seek to close the gap between you and your goal.” 

I believe this tension is good and it is what makes the day-to-day grind of life have meaning and value because we view the daily grind as part of a bigger picture—the goals we have set for ourselves.

Now we tackle the how of setting goals.  Here are five steps to consider:

1.  Pray:  Solomon tells us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.”  (Proverbs 3:5).  I am assuming that we have a desire to get God’s help and to glorify God with our lives so let’s start with consulting Him.  This will help make sure our motivations and perspectives are in order.
2.  Evaluate:  take an honest look at my life to see where I am, where I have messed up, and what opportunities I have in front of me.
3.  Break it down:  establish areas to build your goals around.  Some of the areas I work with include family health, personal development, professional development, physical health, financial health, and spiritual health.  Having specific areas to think about helps me develop balanced goals.
4.  Write it down:  putting goals in writing forces us to have specific goals.  These should be measureable, repeatable, and sustainable.  If I can’t measure them, repeat them, and sustain them over a long period of time they are not good goals.
5.  Plan your review:  have a set target date for each goal and a reoccurring time when the goals will be evaluated.  With no monthly or quarterly review process the goals will easily slip away.  (This is my most difficult part—I get carried away in life and forget to review my goals.  I have to schedule a time on the calendar for review or it never gets done.)

Ok, let’s get started!  Dream big—you have a big Partner!

What is the Most Important Thing I Can Do for God?

That is a big question!  Some might say we should be out winning the lost.  Others would say that we should care for the widows and orphans.  Some might say the most important thing would be to build more churches or schools.

But when I read John 15 I hear Jesus say that our first priority is to “remain” or “abide” in the vine.  The Greek word means, “to remain, continue, stand firm.”

Much of what we attempt to do for Jesus fails to reach its full potential because we fail to get the first part right—we do not begin from a position of remaining in Christ.  There are a lot of good ideas that were not “God ideas.”  I believe that “God ideas” are birthed from our time standing in the presence of God.

In a western culture that values action and busyness it is hard to carve out the intentional time to “remain” in the presence of God.  But the most important thing I can do for God is “remain” in His presence.

When Gabriel introduced himself to Zacharias in Luke 1 he identified himself as “Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God.”  He was the same Gabriel who brought God’s word to Daniel in the Old Testament 600 years earlier.  He is also the angel who came to Mary to announce God’s plan for the birth of Jesus.  From scriptures we know that Gabriel was a warrior and messenger for Almighty God.  But when he introduced himself the focus was on one thing, “I stand in the presence of God.”

I challenge each of us to look at our daily schedule and see when we can carve out a few moments to “remain” or “stand” in the presence of God.  If you don’t have a regular pattern of time with God start with five minutes a day.  Read a passage of scripture and ask God what He wants you to get from that passage.

If you have been following God for some time, try 15 minutes a day.  Read some Scripture, ask for God to show you His truth, and then share with God your hurts and needs.  As you begin to make this a regular habit you will need more time—and you will discover some “God ideas” and directions.