10 steps of Godly goal setting.
1. Determine your position.
Figure out where you are right now. Where am I spiritually right now. Where am I financially right now. Where am I health wise right now.
Whatever you are going to do with your life - get on with it. Every year is a chance for a new start.
2. Define your purpose
What do I want to be, do or have. Get a target. Get a clear, concise and compelling target. Be able to picture it in your mind. You won't reach a vague goal. Being specific empowers you for goal setting. Why do you want that?
a. What do I want to be?
b. What do I want to do?
c. What do I want to have?
Make the decision and then solve the problems. Fear will set in after you set the goal.
3. Discover a promise
Before you set a goal...ask these 3 questions.
1. What is the reward?
2. Why do I want it?
3. How will I feel when I reach my goal.
4. Write down why you want it and how you will feel when you have it.
When you figure out why you want to save your marriage, God will show you how. If you want to become a certain person or have a certain career, God will show you how. He's interested in your motivation and your heart.
You need to know why you are doing what your doing, when things get tough, you will give up. Make the decision to move forward and God will teach you the how part of things. This is where the "trust in me" part comes in.
5. Pray about it.
Mark 11. Jesus says whatever you desire, pray and believe and you will have it. God does something when we pray about our goals to test our desire. God's delays tests our desires. During the test you ask is this a whim or a wish a true desire. They let you see how much you are really relying on God. It's okay to pray for success for your goals. If you have a goal that will bring honor to God and will help other people, you better pray about that goal. Make prayer a continual part of your process.
6. Diagnose the problem.
What are the obstacles that you need to overcome to accomplish your goal?
Ask yourself two questions?
1. Why don't I have this already?
2. What are the barriers? Financial barriers? Educational barriers, I don't know how to do this? They may be relational barriers, people don't want you do it. Or, you have relationships you need to clear up or settle so you can let go of the past and get on with the future.
The biggest barriers you are going to have in your goal setting are emotional barriers. They are emotional barriers inside of you that keep you from attempting more than you have ever thought of before. It's hard for God to get you to think bigger than you have ever thought before. You have to get beyond the emotional barrier. Fear of failure? Fear of success?
What's the best way to handle the problems? Jesus said, in the sermon of the mount, "Don't worry about tomorrow, take life one day at a time". That's how you handle giant problems. You are going to face some big mountains you don't even know about right now. How do you handle it? One day at a time.
7. Design a plan
Design a plan to overcome those problems.
What's you know what the obstacles are, now you design a plan to overcome those problems. How do I intend to get there? Ask yourself how long will it take? Any planning has 3 parts to it. When you make a plan, for your business, your family it should have these 3 things. 1) steps. What are the steps to get there 2) deadline 3) schedule - put it in your schedule. Write it in your calendar. On this date, I will have done this and on this date I will do this.
The way you spend your time and your money reveal your priorities. 5% write down their goals and they are also the highest wage earners.
The way you spend your time and your money reveal your priorities. 5% write down their goals and they are also the highest wage earners.
8. Discipline
Ask yourself, "where do I need to grow?" The best goals are the goals that challenge you to grow. Why is God so much more interested in your character than your goal? You are just more important to him. The growth in your life is much more important.
9. Depend on people
Success is never a one man show. It always involve other people. He made us to need each other and to be better together. God wants us to learn and learn how to love. Learning how to love others is the number one thing we are suppose to learn. Rockefeller said the #1 skill he'd pay for in employees is the ability to get along with others.
Ask yourself, who else can I involve? Do you need someone to hold you accountable? Ask them for support. Ask for their input or advice. God wants you to be involved in the goals of other people. Most of the time if you have a need in your life, God will answer that need through a person not a miracle. He wants us to rely on other people and be in fellowship with others. He wants us to learn from others. Other people's prayers will be answered through you. We grow closer that way. We can be selfish and isolated if we just have God answer our prayers.
10. Deposit the price
There is always a price tag for reaching every goal. There may cost time, money, your reputation or letting go of some things you like to do you may have to let it go. Letting go of some things for the greater good of others is a what God calls you to do sometimes.
notes from Pastor Rick Warren, "The Awesome Power of Focus
