6 STEPS YOU NEED TO SET HEALTHY SPIRITUAL GOALS

Amidst your efforts to eat healthier, start an exercise program, or better organize your office, are you trying to make spiritual growth a priority this year? There are six crucial steps you need to take to set and keep healthy spiritual goals.

WHY SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS IMPORTANT

Here AT THE CROSSROADS, we seek to connect FAITH + LIFE in authentic and meaningful ways. We recognize that no matter where we are on the path, we are all on a spiritual journey. Some of us are just beginning the journey to know and follow God. Many may have wandered off the road and are trying to find their way back. And still, others are committed followers who are seeking to grow deeper in their faith.

Asking for directions, setting spiritual goals, and following God’s path are steps God tells us to take to discover the right route for our souls:

Go stand at the crossroads and look around.

Ask for directions to the old road,

The tried-and-true road. Then take it.

Discover the right route for your souls.”

Jeremiah 6:16 (The Message)

If we truly desire to grow spiritually, we must take purposeful and intentional action. Following the path of spiritual growth begins with setting healthy spiritual goals.

WHAT ARE SPIRITUAL GOALS & WHY YOU SHOULD SET THEM

Before we address how we set spiritual goals, we need to first understand why we should want to set them.

• Are you searching for a deeper connection with God?
• Do you want to experience lasting transformation from the inside out?
• Are you eager to know God’s purpose and plan for your life?
• Do you want to discover more love, joy, hope, and peace?
• Are you seeking wisdom in how to deal with difficult relationships & situations?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, that means you are serious about growing spiritually…and that is the best place to start!

While a genuine desire to learn more about God and follow Jesus is necessary to begin, you will need to set actionable, observable steps to keep you focused and moving in the right direction –> what I will refer to as spiritual goals.

A SPIRITUAL GOAL is a biblical, purposeful, and intentional step we take to know God, follow Jesus, and grow spiritually.

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT SETTING SPIRITUAL GOALS

How do we know what kind of spiritual goals to set? The Bible actually has a lot to say about what kind of actions we need to take to deepen our walk with God and continue to learn and grow.

The Bible says we must first accept Jesus and be rooted in a relationship with him:

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.“

Colossians 2:6-7 (NLT)

Next, we partner with God who works in and through us:

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.“

Philippians 1:6 (ESV)

In addition, God promises to provide everything we need to grow spiritually:

 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.“

2 Peter 1:3-7 (NIV)

Finally, we must use the Bible as our guide for spiritual growth goal setting:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.“

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

6 STEPS NEEDED TO SET SPIRITUAL GOALS WITH EXAMPLES

STEP 1: CONNECT WITH GOD

The first and most important step in any spiritual growth plan is to connect to the source. Jesus tells us that he is the vine and we are the branches and that the only way we can produce healthy fruit is to abide in Him. We cannot achieve spiritual growth on our own; we must allow God to work in and through us to transform and renew our souls.

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.“

John 15:4-5 (NLT)

SPIRITUAL GOAL SETTING EXAMPLES

• If you are unsure of where you are with God, meet with a pastor, mentor, or spiritual leader to understand what it means to have a relationship with Jesus.
• Attend church regularly and/or listen to an online sermon weekly (make sure it is a church that teaches directly from the Bible!).
• If you have not read the Bible or been away from it for a while, start by reading the book of John in the New Testament. You will get a lot out of John because it covers the entire life and ministry of Jesus.

STEP 2: CONQUER FEAR WITH FAITH

One of the obstacles we must overcome when we set out to achieve any goal is the fear of failure. That is why so many resolutions fall short within weeks of beginning them. We cannot sustain the goals we set for ourselves, so we give up or give in. However, spiritual goals should be different because they do not rely on our willpower or strength but on God’s. Choosing to place our faith in God and not ourselves provides the freedom to pursue our spiritual goals without fear.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.“

Philippians 4:13 (ESV)

SPIRITUAL GOAL SETTING EXAMPLES

• Write out key Bible verses (like the one above) on notecards to help you memorize God’s truth or download these free coloring pages with scripture verses.
• Begin listing God’s promises every time you read the Bible and return to these when you begin to doubt and worry.
• As you read through the Psalms, write out every time God says, “I WILL.” This will encourage you!

STEP 3: COMMIT TO DAILY PRACTICE

As with any goal setting plan, daily and repeated practice is necessary to make progress. The outcome of spiritual growth is to become more and more like Christ, which develops as we move from thought to action to habit.

Sow a thought, reap an action;

Sow an action, reap a habit;

Sow a habit, reap a character;

Sow a character, reap a destiny.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

SPIRITUAL GOAL SETTING EXAMPLES

• Begin a Bible reading plan.
• Use regular prayer to talk to God and listen to His voice.
• Set aside a daily quiet time to meet with God.

STEP 4: CULTIVATE ACCOUNTABILITY

God created us for connection and community. Find fellow believers who can not only support and encourage you but who can keep you accountable and offer wisdom, guidance, and prayer. As you grow and mature, you can offer this to others as well!

So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind.“

1 Thessalonians 5:11b (The Message)

SPIRITUAL GOAL SETTING EXAMPLES

• Actively take part in church services. Find at least one way you can serve your local church.
• Find someone who is further down the path from you spiritually and ask them to mentor or disciple you. Look for someone who may be just starting their spiritual journey and offer to mentor them.
• Join a weekly Bible study group or class.

STEP 5: CONTINUE DESPITE SETBACKS

Perseverance and progress are the goals…not perfection! There will be setbacks: times you feel disconnected from God, dry seasons where you feel apathetic, or persistent battles with sin that leave you broken and bruised. We need to press on, knowing that God is faithful and will continue to carry us as we pursue Him.

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.“

Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)

SPIRITUAL GOAL SETTING EXAMPLES

• Keep a spiritual journal to record your thoughts, reflections, and answered prayers. Use it to confess your sin, ask for forgiveness, and make changes.
• Share your faith story. When we take the time to talk about what God has done in our lives, it reminds us of His faithfulness.
• Give back. One of the best ways to get out of a spiritual slump is to reach out to others who may be struggling emotionally, physically, or spiritually.

STEP 6: CELEBRATE GROWTH

It is so important to take the time to look back and see what God has done in your life. Go back to those initial reasons for why you desired to go deeper with God and grow spiritually. Celebrate what you have learned about God through His Word, how you have experienced more love, joy, and peace, and ways you have seen God move in your relationships.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.“

Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)

SPIRITUAL GOAL SETTING EXAMPLES

• Choose a verse, song, or inspirational quotation that represents your growth.
• Read biographies of early church leaders, missionaries, or other spiritual leaders to gain direction and inspiration.
• Keep a gratitude journal and reread it every month to acknowledge how God has transformed and renewed you.

FREE PRINTABLE: SPIRITUAL GOALS GROWTH GUIDE

Download and print this free SPIRITUAL GOALS GROWTH GUIDE to help you go through the steps and develop a plan for deepening your relationship with God.

MORE RESOURCES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

For more practical resources on how to grow spiritually, please check out my FREE FAITH PRINTABLES page to find other guides on prayer, soul care, and spiritual breakthroughs.

If you are looking for a book to use during your quiet time that combines Bible reading, journaling, and devotions, you may want to check out my new release, The Beauty of an Uncluttered Soul. * This devotional Bible study takes you through the process of transformation by teaching you how to allow God’s Spirit to unclutter your soul.

At the Crossroads is a community where you can meet others for hope and encouragement on your faith journey, and I would love to have you as a fellow traveler! Sign up by filling out the form below, and you will receive weekly blog posts, monthly newsletters, and access to over ten printables in my Faith Resource Library.

If this post spoke to you in any way, would you mind leaving a comment, sharing it on social media, or even letting a friend know? I would love know your spiritual goals for this year so that I can pray for you and provide resources that may help on your faith journey!

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