A common misconception about being a Christian is that once you have invited Christ into your heart and take that dip into the water of baptism, that’s all there is to it. You’re done. You’re saved.
While salvation is as simple as a choice, God wants much more. Relationships are a two way street including give and take from both parties.
God has already paved the road to salvation. He left you a manual to follow. The ball is now in your court.
It’s hard to think about maintaining a relationship with someone you don’t see except for in spirit.
That profound sense of presence when you know the Holy Spirit is working in your heart isn’t always there–you will need to search for it.
You can grow in your relationship with God by setting spiritual goals.
Grow your faith in God
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
The first step to spiritual goal setting is putting God first. Sometimes what seems right from a worldly standpoint is far from what God wants.
Seek his understanding before making plans.
Genuinely Love Others As Yourself
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
~Romans 5:8~
The cornerstone of being a believer in Christ is knowing His love. Love isn’t something intended to keep locked away.
Loving others is crucial for pursuing God’s plan simply because He loved us enough to send Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Once you can love, then you can grow.
Live a Life of Service
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
Spiritual growth cannot happen in a heart that is selfish. You can only unlock the chance to grow
By seeking opportunities to help others and serve.
A humble heart is important when you turn to the Lord, and it is a much needed step when starting your journey of setting spiritual goals to realize your potential.
Sincerely Forgive Others
Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
~Luke 7:47- 48~
It is easy to hold a grudge. There are times when it even feels good to hold on to bitterness, especially when a friend has an issue with the same person and you both fall into a gossip trap.
Remember, the more you hold onto what others have said and done, the further away you fall from your relationship with Jesus.
Look up Luke 7 to learn more about this woman that Jesus spoke for and forgave.
Surely if the King of Kings could forgive someone like her, He will forgive you as well. And if you are truly going to believe and accept His forgiveness, then you owe it to Jesus to forgive those who have wronged you in turn.
Pray Every Single Day
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
It is written: PRAY.
You have a direct line to God through Jesus via the Holy Spirit. It is part of God’s plan, and so it should be a part of your plan.
It’s so important for us to make time to talk with God.
Read The Bible Daily
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
~Ephesians 6:17~
It is so easy to overlook the instruction manual and try to do it everything yourself. For example…winging a new recipe? Building an IKEA cabinet?
We’ve all been there. But sometimes, things just get so difficult all that is left is to look in the book.
Spiritual growth is just like that. You can pray, you can fast, you can volunteer your heart out–but if you aren’t reading the Bible daily to further establish your connection to God then your spiritual growth will always fall short.
How Can We Achieve Spiritual Goals?
Hopefully by now you’ve started to get the picture. God loves you so much and wants a relationship with you, which means you need to make a plan to pursue spiritual growth.
Here are some simple steps to get you started.
- Write down your prayers
- Write down your goals
- Put prayer times and Bible study times in your Calendar, then set a reminder
- Take it slow
- Set realistic goals with your pastor or trusted prayer buddy
- Ask a trusted friend to be your accountability partner who will check in on your spiritual growth
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
~1 Peter 2:1-3~
That excitement and determination to make a plan and see it through can cause people to do too much at once and set way too many objectives.
This only leads to inevitable failure. Just like a baby starts out only able to drink milk, Christians start out only able to understand and experience some spiritual growth.
No one becomes an expert on anything with one try, and the same is true with your faith journey.
What Is The Difference Between Goals and Targets?
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?
In the business world there are goals and targets. Yes, they sound like they would mean the same thing, but the subtle difference can make an impact.
A target is the small milestones on the way to the primary goal. If your primary goal is to have a
Deeper spiritual bond with Christ, then praying daily is a target you can try to hit in order to achieve that goal.
Tips On Setting Spiritual Goals
Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.
Even Forbes top entrepreneurs will tell you to write your goals.
“Write-fully” so, one of the first instances of writing down objectives comes from the Bible in Habakkuk. It isn’t enough to let hope swim around in your thoughts.
You need to lock it in with intentionality via pen and paper.
Here are some goals to start with:
- Pray each morning before getting out of bed, and each night before going to bed.
- Read a Bible verse every day
- Make it to Church and Bible study
Why Is It Important to Grow Spiritually?
Growing spiritually is growing closer to God. He desires a relationship with you on a personal
level. Let’s look to Him in these verses to find out more.
Know where you stand with God
For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate,submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
The spiritually immature take part in folly: participating in things that cause destruction of things or people, or distractions from truth and hope.
The more you grow spiritually, the more you understand right from wrong in God’s eyes.
• Understand your purpose
The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.
When you are intentional about your goals to become closer to God you will experience a positive impact.
• Be aware of your thoughts
Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.
You have probably heard this old adage: watch your thoughts, they become your actions.
Eventually, whatever has been kept in your mind will seep out. Let it be the Holy Spirit!
• Develop a relationship with God
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
The ultimate prize is the relationship with God. Setting goals to help in your spiritual growth is
making a plan that ranks higher than anything earth has to offer. Your heavenly rewards are countless and immeasurable.
How is our growth measured as Christians?
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Your growth as a Christian is simply looking more like Christ and less like the world.
If you find you are fitting in and not standing apart, it might be time to reevaluate your spiritual growth and set those goals.
I wear many hats; Wife, Mom, Minister, Blogger and Entrepreneur.
It’s not easy juggling everything but with the Grace of God, I can do all things!
My plate is full but my cup runneth over!!
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I think it is very important to set spiritual goals! It can help in your relationship with God, in your prayer life, and help with your personal life as well. Wonderful post!
Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Great post! Thanks for sharing!
I really enjoyed this post. I think it’s SO important to set spiritual goals!