Setting Spiritual Goals I

Setting Spiritual Goals I

Hebrews 12:1-2

Spirituality is about the invisible innermost part of a person where core beliefs, values and conscience seat, the human part that explains and informs all of life. You therefore cannot isolate spiritual life from other areas of life. Spiritual life is not confined to a compartment, privacy, a building, a gathering or a day of the week. Perceiving it as such limits its value and makes it irrelevant to life. It becomes a baggage instead of an integral part such as a head on a human body is easy to carry. Unlike a loaded bag, that is a burden to carry. 

Further, such removal of the spiritual from the whole of life often splits life to the spiritual and the secular. As a result, many live two lives, the spiritual at church and the secular at the market place. Sometimes they include a third life for home life. To illustrate, a mother and children came to church with suitcases full of clothing and boxes of pots and other kitchenware. When asked to explain their unusual behavior, they said they now wanted to live at church because the father they meet at church is so loving and warm. The one they had at home was harsh and a terror. It ought not to be so.

Spiritual goals help in strengthening and clarifying beliefs and values. For Christians, that happens through strengthening personal relationship with God. The relationship begins with the decision to trust what Jesus Christ accomplished to restore a favorable relationship between God and humanity. Spiritual goals are the key to spiritual growth. Spiritual growth does not happen by accident. It is intentional by setting goals and implementing their action plan. Goals direct resources of faith, energy, ideas, time and finances to make the right things happen.

Spiritual goals like any other, demand faith, time, action, money and commitment.  Review progress to the goals frequently to take steps to overcome obstacles and stay on course. Lack of acting on spiritual growth goals and evaluating progress leads to frustration because there will be no spiritual value addition perceived. Three important categories of spiritual goals are below.

1) Development Goals.

These goals produce formation of character and shape values. They are basic goals to better understand and  strengthen your relationship with God and faith in God's word. They include goals to have quality personal devotional time for reading the Bible and praying, and being an active member of a community of believers (Hebrews 10:25) so as: 

-          To know him better

-          To know your identity in him better and become like him

-          To make him known through showing and sharing his love and power

-          To invest in his purpose to disciple communities

-          To identify with him as part of a community of believers

-          To identify your calling and ministry gifts

A strong godly social supportive environment is vital for spiritual growth and encouragement to overcome obstacles to growth. Other continuous learning avenues that require goals include acquiring good media resources, literature and attending conferences that teach the word of God and Christian life skills. 

Development goals help you grow in your relationship with God. The purpose however is to better practice God’s word in every area of life, which is the next point.  

2) Delivery Goals.

These are goals for applying God's word so that you live out your identity in Christ. The overall goal of salvation is observing everything that Jesus taught (Mathew 28:18-20). We live in times when there is an avalanche of bible information but very little transformation. Transformation happens better when you are intentional to apply the word. Application of Gods word or obedience is the ultimate proof of faith. If you have not trusted enough to act on it, you have not found faith. It is not just praying more. Attending a record number of meetings and going through the motions and commotions of religion is not enough. True spirituality is about accurately representing Gods kingdom on earth as light, salt, yeast, voice, and ambassador of Christ.

Therefore, set goals that allow for God's role in your everyday life. Goals to express your faith in Gods word in everything you do, whether it be at church or the market place and in private or public spheres.  The Bible says that Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, favor with God and people (Lukev2:52). In other words, he grew holistically. Jesus also came to address the full set of human needs spiritual, physical and emotional needs (Luke 4:18). Salvation means being brought to wellness in every way. The work of God on earth touches every aspect of society (Genesis 1:58).

3) Definitive goals for excelling. Definitive goals distinguish themselves by their quality. These goals stand out in being a delight to God and a motivation to you to accomplish them. They bless the heart of God because they:

>>Put God in first place. When you seek God first he promised to add everything you need to your life (Mathew 6:33). Seeking first means considering him first as well as seeing him as the foundation to all else. Putting God in first place attracts his favor, peace, wisdom, strength, and wellness in all respects. When you mind his business, he minds your business. Many fail to allocate time to their spiritual goals because spiritual development is not a priority. Being too busy to find time for God is being busier than God ever intended. Not finding time for something is a value statement saying what you have no time for is of less value than the other things that took away the available time.

Realize that your strength lies in acknowledging your weakness and dependence on God. Because people have no strengths to boast about before an all-able God, he responds to acknowledgement of weakness not strengths. That is why the Jehova names such as Jehovah Jireh relate God to human needs.

>>Are from the heart.  As you delight in God, he has promised to grant your heart's desire (Psalm 37:4). The desires of a person who delights in God are God inspired and he grants them. In addition, because they are a heart's desires the person is passionate about achieving the goals. Alignment of goals and heart's desire is the source of passion.   Without desire even if goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time bound, they will remain unaccomplished.

>>Give in return. Carry the attitude of giving all to God because he has with held nothing from you. He cannot give anything more than what he has given already in Christ. This attitude is the heart of worship. Set goals to give more to God and bless him. Such goals find grace for their fulfillment. You can give more of yours - you can give yourself, time and resources beginning with participation in the work of your local church. Such spiritual investment has returns in all areas of life (Malachi 3:10).

>> Achieve positive change. Changed character and behavior, or transformation, are the indicators of spiritual growth. Set goals to change. Such goals demand a willingness to learn. For example, identify everyday life areas you want to pursue change and see growth. One could target, for example the need to be more forgiveness. Identify the things you need to do to see change and take the remedial choices and actions. For example meditate on forgiveness scriptures, pray for the people who hurt you daily, announce the release of the people daily for a week, etc 

Jesus promised to transform those who come to him (Mathew 4:19). Without transformation, the church's message loses credibility. How can anyone wish the church success in the goal to win the whole world unless by looking at the lives of believers they can see love, discipline, order, relevance, productivity excellence and integrity that reflect a better world?

>>Stretch your faith. Faith only pleases God (Hebrews 11:6). Set God sized goals that stretch you beyond your comfort zone according to the measure of faith you have. Faith grows by the word of God and works by goals since it is the hope of what is expected. Goals set expectations (Hebrew 11:1).

>>Focus on causes. Many are preoccupied with chasing after the fruit, benefits and products of their relationship with God and neglect nurturing the relationship. As a result, they overlook the processes that cause the results they are after. Some miss out acquiring principles, skills and disciplines for lasting solutions by chasing a momentary experiences from one event to another. God wants to turn people from being spiritual spectators and recipients to producers and givers. Set goals to master causes of fruitfulness such as being prayerful, Spirit led, word, cooperation and patience.  

>>Outlive you. God wants his people to bear fruit that remain (John 15:16). He wants you to set goals that out span your lifetime. He wants you to leave a lasting legacy.  You can achieve this by setting goals to train others in what you know (2 Timothy 2:2). Goals to write literature and record messages, goals to set up something or invest in something like a mission agency or business that out spans you,  and goals to invest in your children and young people.

I hope this provides a good orientation before you take the practical steps of spiritual goal setting.