A few years ago, The Circle Maker – Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears by Mark Batterson caught my attention. As a mom of three little ones, time to sit and read was scarce, so I bought the audible version and listened to it in the car, at the playground, and while having a tooth pulled (no joke!). I finished it in less than a week.
The Circle Maker reiterated the importance of priming my day with God’s Word. It inspired me to dust off my prayer journal, write down specific requests, and circle my prayers with holy anticipation.1 It encouraged me to pursue God-given passions and set God-honoring goals aligned with His Will and purpose for my life.
Among my prayer requests were that my husband and I would serve in our church, participate in a small group together, and be given opportunities to share how God is working in our lives with others. Since then, we’ve both accepted positions of ministry and were personally invited to attend and teach small groups. I’ve been blessed with opportunities to write and speak and given the privilege to lead workouts and workshops at our annual women’s retreat.
I’m not saying that simply circling our requests in prayer will guarantee God will answer them affirmatively. However, I’ve noticed that the more time I spend in His presence, the more my desires begin to parallel His. Over time, my goals have shifted from those aimed at worldly success and happiness to those that help me “grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord” and glorify Him (2 Peter 3:18). In letting the old goals go, my goal-setting process has been simplified.
Simplifying Our Goals
For each goal, ask yourself the following questions. Eliminate goals that don’t result in a “yes” to the first four questions.
1. Will this goal help me better myself and become more like Christ?
Keep in mind that goals that require physical or mental discipline can cultivate spiritual discipline when done with the right motives. Any goal motivated by love for the Lord or service to others helps us grow in Christ.2
2. Is this goal driven by a desire to glorify God as opposed to guilt, greed, envy, or pride?
Even small or seemingly mundane tasks, such as keeping up with the laundry, cooking dinner, or cleaning the house, can glorify God when done with an attitude of gratitude. These small acts of service are of great value in God’s Kingdom. On the contrary, tasks completed with selfish motives go unnoticed by God.
3. Is this goal aligned with my core beliefs and values and how God shaped me? Is it biblically based?
If we believe the Bible is true, it should change the way we live, including our goal-setting process. Worldly goals fall by the wayside as we prioritize the things God prioritizes. Long-term goals become more of a vision than an expectation as we learn to let go of control and allow the Lord to determine our steps (Proverbs 16:9).
As we understand more about who God is (by reading His Word), we discover who we are in Christ. How He shaped us uniquely gives us insight into what we were meant to do. For example, becoming an Olympic athlete might be a great goal, but it’s not in alignment with how God shaped me, so it’s not worth pursuing. Combining my spiritual gifts of shepherding and teaching, my interests in science and fitness, and my passion for helping others through writing, speaking, and coaching is a much better fit. It allows me to use my gifts to serve others, which is consistent with what the Bible calls us to do.
4. Will this goal positively impact me and those I love?
With the above example, it’s a no-brainer. How might your goals positively impact those around you?
5. Is this goal realistic in my current season?
I believe God has given me the desire to write a book, but He has also shown me that right now is not the right time. So, I keep doing my best with what God has given me to do today – taking care of my kids, writing on my blog, helping those He has placed in my path – and I trust that He will reveal when the timing is right. If you sense that right now isn’t the right time, don’t eliminate the goal – simply place it on the back burner. Continue to pray over it, asking God to show you when to take the next step or remove the desire from your heart if it is outside of His Will.
In the end, goal setting really comes down to two things – discerning what God wants for your life and then doing something about it. The Bible tells us that those who put His Word into action will be blessed in what they do (James 1:25). Which brings us to the next section…
Putting Our Goals into Action
Once you’ve narrowed down your goals, it’s time to put them into action! For smaller goals, like signing up for a small group, reaching out to a friend, joining the gym, or tackling a project you’ve been putting off, schedule it on your calendar and just do it! For larger goals, like losing ten pounds, sticking to a grocery budget, reading the Bible, or spending quality time with your kids, break them up into smaller action steps.
Here are three questions to help:
1. What’s one thing I can do today to start moving in the right direction?
Make the phone call, write the letter, sign up for the class, hire a coach, download the app, set your alarm, schedule it on your calendar, etc. Just do something to get the ball rolling.
2. How can I insert a habit into my daily routine to help me accomplish this task?
Follow a daily meal plan, read fifteen minutes of scripture when you first wake up or hit the gym after work. One of the best ways to build a habit is to insert it into your morning or evening routine.
3. How will I hold myself accountable for following through?
Can you get an accountability partner or trainer? Celebrate small victories along the way to stay motivated. Register for a charity walk or race.
Circling Our Goals in Prayer
Batterson says journaling is the “difference between forgetting and fulfilling our goals.” Writing down our goals and praying over them daily keeps them at the forefront of our minds. It also keeps us focused on seeking God’s wisdom, so we continue to make decisions that honor and glorify Him.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
“Praying circles around our biggest dreams” means prayer is continuous throughout the goal-setting process. As we spend time in His presence and study scripture, God shapes our dreams and desires to align with His (Psalm 37:4). Our goals begin and end in prayer as we ask God to reveal those desires and thank Him for all He has done.
References:
1. Batterson, Mark. (2016). The Circle Maker – Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
2. Warren, Rick. (2018, December 28). Two Questions to Ask of Your Goals. Daily Hope with Rick Warren. Retrieved December 28, 2018 from https://pastorrick.com/two-questions-to-ask-of-your-goals/.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Jen Roland
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