Faith Fueled Goals - How to Follow God and Achieve Your Goals
Hi Curl Friends! We made it through the first month of 2021! How are you doing with your goals? Are you still disciplined and inspired to crush your goals? My personal theme for the year is FOUNDATION, and since its the start of a new year and we just entered February, I believe we all are in need of creating a solid foundation for goal planning and intention setting. I chose FOUNDATION as my 2021 theme because there are so many areas of my life where I feel like my foundation has/is cracked or areas where I’ve moved so fast that I didn’t take the time to ensure I had the proper foundation set. I feel like a lot of us rush to make new year goals or resolutions without the proper foundation which is why many us find ourselves quitting our goals by February (oh shoot, its February right? LOL!). Well this year I plan to rebuild my foundation as well as build a foundation in areas of my life like my marriage, career, motherhood, friendships, and of course, my brand Naturally Shauniece.
When I’m starting a new goal or re-evaluating my life, I’m always brought back to God. God is truly the start of everything as written in Genesis 1:1 “in the beginning God created heaven and earth” and in John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” So when setting goals and intentions for the new year, I always start with God. Some of you may be asking what do God and goals have in common? Or how can one follow God and achieve goals with purpose? Or will setting goals and success lead me away from God’s plans for me? I’m here to share what I’ve learned about God and how God desires for us to live on purpose, not by accident.
I’ve learned the hard way that no goal is complete until God is inserted into my plan. In fact, none of “my” plans are truly mine. If you need to rebuild foundations in your life or find yourself struggling with your new year goals, here are my go-to God + Goals = Success scriptures. Happy goal setting!
Seek God First
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Anything that our hearts desire, should have its roots in God. We have to put God first in everything we plan and do. When setting goals, think about how your goals start with God or why God would want you to achieve this goal. Pray about your goals asking God to be the catalyst to you reaching your goals. Also ask God to block any goal that is not aligned with his will for your life. Read God’s word and seek to do right.
Simply Ask God
Matthew 7:7-8
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find it; knock, and it will be open to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
Simply put, closed mouths don’t get fed. If you want to reach a certain goal ask God first. God wants to give us our hearts desires, especially when we pray for our desires to be aligned with God’s will for our life. After you ask God, do the work. Knocking on God’s door and seeking God’s will requires action. We can’t just ask God, we have to act. We can seek God’s will through prayer or wise counsel (make sure these are wise people; don’t seek out dumb folk). God will open doors we can’t even imagine. We just have ask, knock, and seek God.
Trust in the Lord, Not Yourself
Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
When goal setting, always start by acknowledging God first. This can be done through prayer inviting God into your plans and asking him to establish your plans. You can also pray for God to impart his wisdom on your decision making.
Be Diligent About Your Plans. Don’t Rush Plans or Goal Setting
Proverbs 21:5 ESV
The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.
Whew this is a WORD, right? God is clear, if we want abundance we have to be diligent. Diligent means having or showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties (Google, 2020). So don’t be hasty or quick to set your goals and intentions. Take your time. Think how God can use you to make an impact. Your goal should be based on outcomes in 2021, but rather outcomes five years from now.
Transform and Renew Your Mind
Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
New year, new you starts in your mind first! With new goals comes a new mindset. This is where I believe we fail at most when setting goals. We’re so quick to set a goal and just start work, but we should focus on our minds. Examples may include saying daily affirmations, viewing food as fuel instead of a diet, or viewing saving money as an investment in our future instead of suffering because we can’t have immediate gratification.
Think Positive Thoughts
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Once again God is clear about our mindset. In any and everything we must think positively. I personally love this scripture because it reminds me that life will not be easy and is full of challenges; why else would God put it on Paul’s heart to plead with the Philippians to think about anything that is praise worthy, no matter how big or small? As you go about reaching your 2021 goals, always think positive thoughts.