Faith-Filled Goal Setting: Aligning Your Life With God’s Will
Lately, I’ve been craving slower days.
Surrounded by the endless noise to do more. Achieve everything in a day. Beautifully intricate planner spreads and everything on the to-do list checked off. I’m overwhelmed. I’ve tried for so long to be “that girl” and do all the things society has asked me to do. But I’ve been feeling the pull to step back from the noise, quiet my heart, and ask the Lord what He actually wants me to focus on in this season. It’s nothing to check the boxes, stay busy, and keep moving to feel productive. But if I’m honest, that kind of striving leaves me feeling stretched thin and spiritually empty.
So, I started doing something different. Before I wrote anything down, I prayed, I opened my Bible. I listened. Little-by-little, this faith-based goal planned came to life— not as another thing to do, but as a gentle rhythm for planning with God. It’s simple, peaceful. It’s been helping me set goals that actually reflect the life that I want to build: faithful, rooted, and steady.
I’ve learned that there’s something quietly sacred about sitting down with a warm cup of coffee, an open planner, and a heart ready to listen. So, if you’ve ever set goals that felt exhausting or unsatisfying— you’re not alone. The world constantly tells us to hustle harder, dream bigger, and do more. But what if our goals looked different? What if they were rooted in God rather than performance? Anchored in prayer rather than pressure?
Shifting from Hustle to Holiness: How I’m Setting Goals with God’s Wisdom
There are plenty of ways to divide everything out, so don’t feel pressured to follow a strict guide. Devote time and prayer into how God is shaping your life for His will. Start small and work your way up. What can you do today to make tomorrow better? Make one goal that you know you can check off and build your confidence. Put away the dishes? check. Read one chapter in John? Check. Having small goals and achieving those goals allows you to build confidence to tackle bigger goals.
I reserve monthly goals for something bigger. Usually it’s to finish a book of the Bible or to finish a Bible study (My favorite are from The Daily Grace). Another way to do this is to be a catalyst for God’s love by going out of your way to do something kind for someone. Maybe even volunteering for extra responsibility at church or helping a friend in need. Everyday we should act like Jesus. Following his commandment to love one another and being an example of what a worshiper of God should be.
Years are good guides for overarching themes in your life. Maybe it’s reading the entire Bible, maybe it’s paying off a debt. These are great for seeing the way that God has worked in your life. Great for seeing where he is leading you as opposed to where you thought you were going. Remember friends, we should always be ready and prepared.
A simple, Christ-centered tool to help you set meaningful, God-aligned goals
Here’s the solution. I’ve made an ultra-simple printable that allows God to fill in the blanks. I’m not going to lead you into a certain direction, but allow you to deepen your connection to God through thought and devoted prayer. Let Him lead you. Let Him prove his ultimate love and knowledge.
I chose a verse from Habukkuk for it’s connection to having trust in God and His vision. Habukkuk is written in a form of poetry called a lament. He’s basically arguing with God about him allowing Israel to become corrupt and allowing the even more evil nation of Babylon destroy them. But God works in wonderful ways and this was the prophesy given to him. Habukkuk learns to trust God through hard times and believe that God does not abandon His people.
I think it is a wonderful reminder that God is always leading you to where He wants you to be. It’s best to let Him.
Different Ways to Record And Reflect on Your Goals Through a Faith-Focused Lens
There are so so so many ways to set and track goals. (Trust me, I’ve tried almost all of them.) I’ve made a printable with a pink and green version that is very open to allow you to set goals in a way that God leads you. Follow what the Spirit tells you! I really encourage you to try and see what works best for you. Here’s a simple breakdown of methods I think that you should try depending on things that you like:
If you love physical media and art, try bullet journaling.
If you love an online platform with great customization, try Notion
If you want something just on your phone, try some planner apps
If you like a physical paper that you can write on, try my printable!!
