Last week we looked at the most important question a person could ask themselves going into 2019.
Today, I want to give a brief overview of how to set Christ-Centered Goals.
Christ-Centered Goals: Framework
A year ago I wrote these words and they still ring true.
My biggest issue is that I see so many Christians goal setting, but they are motivated more by the culture than Christ. There are financial goals, physical goals, career goals, etc., but we set those goals without being Christ guided. If we’re honest, most of them are simply Christless. There are spiritual goals, but not spiritually grounded lives. Our spiritual goals end up being a spoke on the wheel, but not the hub through which our lives and goals revolve around.
To move from self-centered goals to Christ-centered goals we must change our framework. We must set our goals biblically, prayerfully and eternally.
- Biblically – our goals must be grounded in the Word and not the world. Seek first the kingdom and all else will follow (Matt. 6:33).
- Prayerfully – our goals must be saturated in prayer to confirm that they are God’s goals and not simply our own.
- Eternally – our goals must be eternally minded, so that we have corrective perspective about our life and, in turn, our goals.
Christ-Centered Goals: Heart Posture
People don’t change when something simply captures their mind. People change when something or someone captures their heart.
When something captures your heart, it captures your life. Jesus knew this to be true when he said,“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
To move from self-centered goals to Christ-centered goals we must not only change our framework, but also our heart posture. We must have humble, faithful and loving hearts.
- Humility – A follower of Christ must be “poor in spirit” to inherit the kingdom and achieve Christ-centered goals. (Matt. 5:8)
- Faithfulness – the goal is not well done good and successful servant, but well done good and faithful servant. (Matt. 25:21)
- Love – the whole scripture can be summed up with love God and love others. Our goals must reflect this great commandment. (Matt. 22:36-40)
Christ-Centered Goals: Tools
After we have our framework in place with the correct heart posture, it’s time to put the right tools in your hand. I agree with what James Clear says in his best seller Atomic Habits.“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
Our goals are only as good as our systems that we have in place in place to help us achieve them. You can find 5 steps that I use to set goals here.
You can dive deeper into these topics at the links below, but don’t start your goal setting without asking the most important question first.