“Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established.”
Proverbs 16:3
Plans to prosper.
Have you ever struggled with the thought of making plans or setting goals? In the past, I struggled to set goals because I was afraid that they wouldn’t be according to “God’s will.” I thought, “what if this isn’t what God wants?” I struggled to move forward out of fear that I would set the wrong goals or interfere with God’s work in my life. It took me a long time to realize that these fears were not based on reality or Scripture at all.
I believe that God wants us to lead healthy, productive, joyful lives, free of fear, doubt, and uncertainty. I’ve found that setting goals helps me to consistently move forward in good things. Some plans that I made this year were in the areas of business, relationships, and writing. Each of these areas had been places of uncertainty, lack of clarity, and, in some cases, fear.
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.
Proverbs 19:21
As I prayed about the goals I would set and the areas of life in which I was struggling and needed clarity, I found that God revealed areas where my heart needed to be healed. He touched places in my life that I didn’t even know were broken. He helped me make the first steps forward by setting good, godly goals in those three areas (business, relationships, and writing).
As I began to step out in faith in these plans and goals, God began to provide key people who encouraged me and furthered God’s healing work in my life. He also provided connections that actually helped me accomplish and move toward my goals. I truly believe that as we pray for wisdom and guidance, God will give it to us. Even when we don’t feel like we’ve received that wisdom yet, we can still trust that He is present and helping us and ultimately bringing about His plans in our lives.
In all hard work there is profit.
Remember to stay committed. Those plans that we “commit to the Lord” will not always be easy. Some days we will be excited to move forward and other days we will not. Our feelings will get in the way and we can either choose to hide in our insecurities or uncertainties or continue trusting the Lord and moving forward despite not knowing where it all leads.
Dreams without goals are just dreams that stay in our heads. We need goals to keep us moving forward. I’ve found that seeking the Lord in prayer before setting my goals is a great way to build confidence and trust that He’s with me in the planning and in the doing. Ask for His wisdom and guidance in pursuing your goals and in seeing them come to pass. Your future self will thank you for pushing past the doubt and fear.
Challenge/Takeaway Action: Write down the specific dreams that are on your heart. Break down these dreams into actionable goals or steps that you can take to get there. Examples: If this goal is to get married, think about how you could start being intentional about dating, or if it’s to start a business, start seeking counsel or practical advice to get started. The more clear your goals are, the more likely you will be to follow through and do them. Take time to pray about these goals, too. Ask the Lord to guide you and to help you honor Him in each goal before you get started working on them.
