Goals That are Part of God’s Plan. . .

I can’t tell you the amount of goals that I have set in my life that I haven’t even come close to achieving. Now, you could tell me that it was a learning experience, or that failure is something that happens just before success, but much of the time, I just plain-old set the wrong goal. Many times in my life I have set goals that had nothing to do with anything I wanted, nor were they part of God’s plan for me. Talk about setting yourself up for failure!

When we set the wrong goals for our lives, it can be destructive. Every time we set a goal and we don’t achieve it, our self-esteem can be affected. Before you set your next goal, ask yourself: Is this really something I want or is this something I think I should do? There is a huge difference between “want” and “should.” “Want” is something that comes out of our hearts, something that might represent God’s plan for us. “Want” goals represent deep, heartfelt desires.

On the other hand, “Should” is a goal or feeling that is motivated out of guilt, manipulation or insecurity. “Want” goals stick to us and come around again and again when we don’t achieve them. “Should” goals are very intense at the beginning and wear off quickly, usually within a week or two.

How do you decipher between a “want” goal and a “should” goal? Turn to the Lord. He is our Maker and plants seeds of our purpose and plan in us from the moment He created us. Take time to pray and journal before you make a decision. Know that God will answer your prayer and your request for wisdom, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God and He will give it to you.” (James 1:5) You have been put on Earth at this time for a reason. God does not make mistakes and He wants you to assist Him in bringing the Kingdom to this world. Do not make a rash decision, but allow God to work in your heart and grow His purpose in you. Only then will you be able to decipher a “want” goal from a “should” goal.

©2010 All rights reserved. Karen Kalis, Kalis Enterprises, www.onthegochristianwoman.com

Being smart when you are setting up goals is one of the key ways to increase your likelihood of success. As a life coach, I have always encouraged my clients to think about three things:

• What are the desires of your heart? What has God put in you?
• Are your goals achievable?
• Is there a way to measure your progress?

First, there is no doubt in my mind that God plants specific seeds in us at birth. Seeds of talent, desire, innate skill, and spiritual giftedness are all things we are equipped for before we take our first breath. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” When thinking about the desires of your heart, what has God prepared for you to do? Are you talented with people, in understanding science, or nurturing kids? Keep in mind your desires within what God has already gifted you to do when you are setting your goals.

Second, you must make sure that your goals are achievable. Here’s an obvious example. I’ll never be an NFL football player. No chance. Likewise, you don’t want to choose something as a goal that just isn’t possible for you. This does not mean that you should not pursue a goal that might be difficult. Just because a goal is large, would require some sacrifice, or might take a significant amount of time, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t look into it. Those goals are frequently the most rewarding to work on.

Finally, make sure there is a way to measure your progress. This means that even for large goals you must be deliberate in breaking them down into small parts. Any goal can seem extremely overwhelming if you don’t break it down into small parts. This is the most common reason that people abandon their goals. Think about January first, when everyone joins a gym and decides to get in bikini-ready shape for the summer. Within just a few weeks, the goal has been abandoned.

Being intentional with your goals by acknowledging the desires of your heart, checking to make sure that your goals are achievable and attaching a measurable standard to them will really help you to succeed. Friday, in the final part of our series, we will discuss goals that are part of God’s plan.

©2010 All rights reserved. Karen Kalis, Kalis Enterprises, www.onthegochristianwoman.com

Today, we’re going to start a three part series on goal setting. As I said in an earlier post, I love this time of the year. Just as the kids get an opportunity to start fresh, with new school supplies, teachers and a clean slate in a new grade, we get an opportunity to start fresh as well. People have lots of questions about setting goals, and (speaking of goals) it is my personal goal to clarify some of those questions for you. Here are some of the most common questions:

• Why is it important to set goals? You can certainly live your life without any set goals, but when you do decide that you want something in your life, with God’s help, setting goals can really help you to move forward in the direction that you desire. Goals help us to develop and grow, rather than stagnate.
• Is it better to set short-term or long-term goals? Part of the answer to this question depends on your personality and what you are trying to accomplish. If, for instance, you are trying to update your family records or change an annoying personal habit, a short-term goal may be better. However, if your goal is to complete to graduate school, then that would be a long-term goal. Remember, though, that every long-term goal is made up of a series of short-term goals.
• How do I avoid feeling overwhelmed by large goals? By breaking them down into doable steps. As I said, every long-term goal is nothing but a series of short-term goals that have been achieved. In the case of organizing a whole house or returning to school, small goals might include requesting information from prospective schools, or cleaning out one drawer. The old adage, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” is truly applicable when setting long-term goals.
• Where do people generally get hung up in completing their goals? When their goal is too big. Giant goals have a tendency to overwhelm, rather than inspire us. Again, break each goal into baby steps and then celebrate each completed step.
• How do I know if I should pursue a goal? In one word: pray. God has a plan for you (see Jeremiah 29:11) and He knows what is best for you. It is not in His best interest, nor yours that He hide it from you or prevent you from getting where you were designed to be. He loves you and wants you to live out His purpose for your life.

When you are beginning to think about setting goals, pay attention to the questions above as they may help you on the beginning of your journey. On Wednesday, we will cover how to set up goals so that you’ll have the best chance of achieving them.

©2010 All rights reserved. Karen Kalis, Kalis Enterprises, www.onthegochristianwoman.com