5 Effective Steps to Fulfill Your God-given Goals in 2020
Welcome to July! The seventh month of an incredibly challenging year! And, I believe there is no better time than now to reflect on the past six months so we can appreciate and look forward with anticipation to where we are going in the next six months. I hope you’ll find this post encouraging as we take a look at 5 effective steps to fulfill your God-given goals.
2020 has been a year none of us anticipated; I know I have faced some disappointments this year, as I am sure all of you have. However, the year is not over, and we have many great opportunities to glorify God in the upcoming months.
It’s time to take those goals you’ve been dreaming of or deferring for some reason and put them into action!
My question for you is, what mindset are you holding on to, and how is this mindset affecting how you will take action over the second part of the year? Is your mindset one of growth or idleness? Maybe your current mindset is fear-based?
Wherever your thoughts are leading you, I encourage you at this very moment to turn your heart to God and the promises He has for you. Place your full confidence in Him. The Jesus Bible states, “Put simply, people become what they behold.”
What are you beholding?
What are you allowing to permeate your thoughts? As you know, what you think has a great influence on your actions.
Placing your trust in God with an eagerness to do His will allows you to fulfill the plans He has for you.
This week, I’ve listed 5 ways to put your faith into action for the second half of 2020, so let’s get going!
1. Seek approval from God, not the world!
If the Lord has placed a dream on your heart, then place your trust in Him and the abilities you have been given.
Receiving support and guidance from your Christian community is a wonderful thing, but ultimately it is between you and God whether you fulfill your goals.
If you really desire to turn a dream into reality, stop seeking approval from the world. Constantly floating around your ideas and seeking the approval of people will waste your time and kill your dream. Keep your thoughts set on God.
What will happen if you don’t receive the approval of those whose permission you are so desperately seeking to fulfill your goals? Nothing!
“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:5-8 ESV
2. Don’t Wait for Perfection.
There’s never going to be a perfect time to fulfill your dream. If you are waiting for the perfect time before taking action, you will lose precious time, your enthusiasm will wane, and most likely, you will abandon your dream (words from a recovering perfectionist).
While it is important to be wise in your decision-making and trust God’s timing, remember, conditions may never be as perfect as you hoped or dreamed. You may never have all the money, time, or knowledge you desire to begin working on your goals. But do not let the need for perfection stop you from moving forward.
What you can do today is step out in faith and trust God to lead you. Lean on Him. He will provide you with the resources you need if you trust in Him.
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34 ESV
3. Set Your Mind on God.
Many women have dreams and goals that remain unfulfilled because they are too busy, too distracted, or too focused on what others are doing. I call this the shiny object syndrome or comparison trap. We’re always looking for the next best thing or comparing our journey to someone else’s journey. These habits unquestionably create a stuck mindset. And when you are stuck, you are not moving forward!
If God has placed a dream in your heart, you will need to devote your time and resources to make the dream a reality. This takes discipline. Our full potential will only be reached when we make the decision to create time for what matters most. So, spend time in prayer with God and seek Him with all your heart and mind.
The Lord gives us the desire, but we are called to commit to the plans He has for us. This will only happen when we set our minds on the things above.
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2 ESV
4. Decide Once and For All!
Accomplishing your goal begins with prayer and the decision to go after your God-given dream. It’s not for the faint of heart. God does not promise an easy crossing, but He does promise that if we rely on Him, He will give us the desire of our hearts.
Once we decide to follow God, we are called to boldly step out in faith. Taking the first step and then the next step requires us to let go of the unhealthy thoughts and feelings that are keeping us stuck.
To embrace God’s call on our lives, we must renew our minds daily to recognize God’s calling at each step of our journey.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 ESV
5. Commit to the Lord!
There’s no need to struggle. When you commit yourself to the Lord, He will give you the strength to carry out the plans He has for you. No one else can do this for you.
If you are truly dedicating your works to the Lord, you can rely on Him to provide for you, but you must obey. My favorite phrase is, pray and obey.
Over the years, I’ve discovered that in order to be fulfilled, I need to check the intentions and motivations of my desires. Are my desires truly God-ordained, or are they superficial?
If you truly desire to achieve your God-given purpose, you will commit your ways to the Lord, and He will establish your plans.
“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” Proverbs 16:3 ESV
The Challenge
Will you take time to apply these 5 effective steps to fulfill your God-given goals? I believe if you implement these action steps, you will achieve your goal. Seek God’s direction, remove your doubts and fears, set your mind on His promises, renew your thoughts through His Word, and commit your ways to God.
“For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14 ESV
If you sincerely desire to fulfill your God-given purpose, seek God and rely on Him. Do not allow the things of this world to distract you from your purpose. God extends an invitation to each of us.
I encourage you to direct your thoughts on Him. Our thoughts are critical to our success. Our thoughts can hold us back or move us forward. The choice is yours. What will you choose? I hope you choose to fulfill your God-given purpose and accept the invitation to pursue the plans God has for you.
This month as we focus on the importance of our mindset, I’m offering my 90- minute coaching session, Reflection & Refocus, for $50 (a 40% discount). For those of you new to my 90-minute coaching call, we will spend time working through a particular challenge or goal using a 5-step coaching method. To reserve your spot, schedule a Complimentary Clarity Call, and let’s connect!
