SOMEONE ONCE SAID, “If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time.” That statement holds much truth. God doesn’t want us to drift through life without direction and never accomplish anything. I believe He calls us to set goals, work toward them, and grow in every area of our lives. In fact, the Bible is full of examples of goal setting and planning.
A BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE
Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Vision is important to God, and having goals gives us direction. Proverbs 21:5 (NLT) also tells us, “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.” Notice it doesn’t just say planning—it includes hard work. Setting and reaching goals takes effort, but when we do it God’s way, the rewards are worth it.
Looking at creation, we see that God had a plan. He didn’t create the world in one day or in a random order. He had a structured plan for each day of creation. The same is true for salvation. God’s plan to send Jesus to save us didn’t happen overnight. It was in place from the very beginning. Throughout the Old Testament, we see prophecies and foreshadowing of Jesus’ coming. Even during the 400 years of silence before the New Testament, God’s plan never changed. When the time was right, Jesus came, fulfilled His mission, and made a way for us to have a relationship with God.
Isaiah 46:10 (NLT) says, “Only I can tell you the future before it even happens.” God is the ultimate goal setter. He sees the beginning and the end, and His plans always come to pass. Since we are made in His image, we should also be intentional about setting goals that align with His will.
SETTING GODLY GOALS
Proverbs 16:3 (NLT) says, “Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.” This means we shouldn’t set goals based solely on our own desires; instead, we should seek God first and surrender our plans to Him. Matthew 6:33 (NLT) reminds us, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” We don’t want to leave God out of our plans. If we don’t seek Him first, nothing we do will succeed.
Too often, we let other people’s goals distract us. We hear what a friend is doing or see an influencer on social media, and suddenly we’re chasing after things God never told us to pursue. Instead of adopting other people’s goals, we should ask, “Lord, what do You want for me?” The Holy Spirit lives in us and knows the future. He will guide us toward the right goals if we listen to Him.
WRITING IT DOWN
After seeking God, the next step is writing our goals down. Habakkuk 2:2 (NKJV) says, “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.” Writing down our goals strengthens our commitment to them. Studies show that people who put their goals in writing are 42 percent more likely to achieve them than if they just say them out loud.
BREAKING GOALS INTO STEPS
Big goals can feel overwhelming. That’s why breaking them into smaller steps is so important. If our goal is too vague or broad, it’s easy to get stuck. For example, one year I set a goal to read 24 books. I wrote it down and was excited, but I didn’t break it into steps. By the end of the year, I had read only nine books. I failed because I didn’t have a clear plan.
I’ve found that a great way to set effective goals is to use the SMART method:
S—Specific: Clearly define the goal. What exactly do you want to achieve?
M—Measurable: Make sure you can track progress. How will you know when you’ve reached your goal?
A—Achievable: Is the goal realistic with God’s help? Stretch yourself, but don’t set an impossible standard.
R—Relevant: Does it align with God’s plan for your life right now?
T—Time-bound: Set a deadline to create urgency and focus.
Jesus Himself set a SMART goal. Luke 19:10 says the Son of Man came to seek and save those who were lost. His goal was specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. And He accomplished it!
ACCOUNTABILITY MATTERS
Proverbs 27:17 (NLT) says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” We need people in our lives who will hold us accountable. A study by Dr. Gail Matthews of Dominican University of California found that people who wrote down their goals, broke them into steps, and provided weekly updates to a friend had a 76 percent success rate.* That’s a huge jump from the 42 percent success rate of just writing goals down.
Find someone you trust—a friend, spouse, or mentor—and share your goals with them. Checking in regularly will help keep you accountable and on track.
CELEBRATE PROGRESS
As we work toward our goals, we should take time to celebrate milestones along the way. We can reflect on what we’ve accomplished, thank God for His help, and recognize our progress. This will keep us encouraged and motivated.
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
Two things that often keep people from achieving their goals are fear of failure and procrastination.
Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) reminds us, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” We don’t have to fear failure. Someone has said, “Don’t fear failure. Fear being in the exact same place next year as you are today.”
Someone once said, “Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.” If you mess up one day, don’t quit—just start again.
Procrastination is another roadblock. Proverbs 13:4 (NLT) says, “Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.” Success doesn’t happen by accident. We have to take action.
A TIME OF GROWTH
As you set and pursue your goals, believe that God is working in you. He wants you to grow and accomplish great things. Ephesians 3:20 (TPT) says, “Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.”
So seek God, make a plan, and take action. This can be your time to grow, flourish, and accomplish things you never thought possible!
* Matthews, Gail, “The Impact of Commitment, Accountability, and Written Goals on Goal Achievement” (2007). Psychology | Faculty Presentations. 3. https://scholar.dominican.edu/psychology-faculty-conference-presentations/3
Author
Denise Hagin Burns
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