Goal Setting

“Seeds of Glory”

Dear Writer, I hope you had a good week and began to plan your first steps toward your “why!” As we move into the New Year, we’re going to pivot and explore goal setting.

You see, writer, our first steps are only good if we take them. And sometimes to do that, we need to break our big goal into actionable bite-size pieces. But before we get started, let’s take a look at some others whose goal-setting helped them reach their dreams step by step.

Goal Setting in History

Benjamin Franklin is a great example of a man who embraced goal setting. Franklin had a burning desire to reach moral perfection. And though, being human, he never reached it, he broke that massive goal into many smaller goals—thirteen specific virtues—that he tracked on a daily and weekly basis. By the end of his life, Franklin found that, though he ultimately fell short, his intentional pursuit had bettered him and had positioned him to be a man of great influence during the founding of our nation.

That influence is still felt both in the nation that Franklin helped found and in the thirteen virtues and process of goal setting and productivity he developed that still inspires people today.

Goal Setting in the Bible

Esther is another great example of goal setting. When faced with the genocide of her people. Esther broke her big goal of seeking King Xerxes favor into several smaller steps. Beginning with prayer and fasting she carefully positioned herself to find favor in God’s eyes and King Xerxes, paving the way with courageous act of love toward God, the King, and her people respectively. Her wise and selfless service prepared both her and Xerxes for his “yes” and all that followed Esther worked with Mordecai to write many Persian laws for the protection of the Jews. 

You see, writer, sometimes when we God calls us to a big dream, we are tempted to feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the end goal. But here’s the thing. When, like Esther, we begin by seeking the Lord, He not only prepares our hearts, gives us wisdom, and helps us see the next step we need to take. 

Goal Setting in Life

When I started writing my novel, I signed up for NaNowWriMo and set goal to write 50,000 words and finish my novel by the end of November. As the month began, I divided that 50,000 words and found I needed to write about 2,380 words a day to hit my goal. I broke that daily target down further by writing in 25 minute sprints, updating my word count as I went so I could see my progress. Though I didn’t finish my novel as planned, I did surpass the 50,00 word goal and, in the process, established some excellent habits that helped me continue writing and finish my 250,00 word duology in just nine months.

Goal Setting in Your Life

You see, writer, sometimes the best way to begin moving toward our big goals is to simply ask, “What can I do today?” Or we maybe even. “What can I do every day toward my goal?” Because here’s the thing…

Every journey is made up of steps. When we get too focused on what our end goal looks like, sometimes we overlook the simple steps we can take today. And though one step may seem small, when you repeat that step day after day, you suddenly find yourself in a places you never been before. Let me show you…

• • And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9
  • But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.” – 2 Chronicles 15:7
  • Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. – Psalm 126:5-6
  • …so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. – Hebrews 6:12
  • … to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life – Romans 2:7

Do you see, writer? When we persist in the work God has given us, not only are we working toward accomplishing our His goal for us, we are seeking glory, honor, and immortality—not just for us but for other, too. Because here’s the thing. When we accomplish the work He’s given us to do, it brings glory to Him and is impacting souls around us in ways we may never see.

Esther’s persistent work literally saved the lives of the Jews. Franklin’s goal of moral perfection created a life of influence that left an indelible mark on the formation of our nation. My dedication to set and keep a simple word count equipped me to a write and release a life-changing story and then to equip others to release their stories as well.

Where to Start with Goal Setting

So are you ready to get started with goal setting in your writing journey? Here are some ideas to get you started!

1. 1. Review Your Why. If you are not sure what your big goal is, I encourage you to revisit your “why” and prayerfully explore what goals would most dramatically move you toward it. Once you’ve brainstormed several possibilities, seek the Lord and identify which goal would make the most progress toward that God-given “why.”
   2. Write It Down. Once you’ve chosen your goal, write down in as much detail as possible. What will accomplishing that goal will look like in your life? What steps do you need to take? Are there any skills you need to learn? Habits you need to establish?
   3. Choose a First Step. Once you’ve listed out steps, skills, and habits to embrace, identify what first step to take and make a timeline or a list ranking the tasks, skills, and habits in a logical order. Don’t’ worry if the order isn’t perfect. You can adjust it as you go!
   4. Set a Goal. One you’ve outlined your steps and chosen which will be your next, select a date to accomplish that step by. Some of these stepping-stone goals might take a year, some a quarter, some a month or less! If you’re not sure how long your first step will take, don’t fear! Part of goal setting is trial and error, and as you go, you will get better and better at setting accurate and attainable goals. And here’s the thing… Even a missed goal produces progress. But you can’t grow from a goal you never set.

If you’ll notice, writer, goal setting is all about growth. You see, we don’t often start as the people we need to be to reach our God-dreams. But God in his grace uses the process and pursuit of His dream for us to prepare us for the very thing He’s designed us for. 

Just like Franklin’s goals prepared him to be the man of integrity and influence not just in America but in many other countries as he represented the interests of our infant republic. Just like Esther grew in her relationship with God and Xerxes through her intentional steps to prepare for and seek the favor of each. Just like developing my writing habit not only led to finishing my novel but enabled me to help others finish theirs.

So, I encourage you today, writer! If God has called you to a dream that seems daunting—never fear! His dream for you is not just a massive goal. It is an invitation to a journey of glory in and through Him,  as you come to know and experience Him in ways you never have before. As you step hand in hand with Him toward these goals, He will not only prepare you for the open doors ahead but to open doors for others to walk through too. Because here’s the final thought…

In every goal, there is your part and God’s part. And larger part of goals setting is simply developing the persistence and faith required to keep going and increasing your partnership with Him as you trust Him to accomplish His good work in and through you.

#goals #growth #perseverance #faith #keepgoing #justonestep #dream #EveryWriterWriting