Christians have often debated whether we should set goals for our lives or not. Some people think that goals and planning are necessary. Proverbs 21 says: ‘The plans of hard-working people earn a profit, but those who act too quickly become poor’ (v.5 NCV). God doesn’t want us to be sitting around doing nothing. He wants us to work hard and move forward. Other people think that we shouldn’t make any plans or goals at all, because God’s in control and we don’t know what’s going to happen each day. The Bible says: ‘Some of you say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to some city. We will stay there a year, do business, and make money.”  But you do not know what will happen tomorrow!’ (James 4:13-14 NCV). However, the Bible also suggests a more balanced approach. Making goals for our lives isn’t a bad thing. It’s good to have something to aim towards, but we need to make sure that our goals line up with God’s will, otherwise there’s not much point to them. God’s plans for us are better than any we’ll be able to come up with ourselves, so it’s vital that we take our goals to Him and ask Him whether they’re goals which line up with what He wants for us. We need to be flexible. God might want us to change our goals completely, or simply adjust them a little. The Bible tells us that ‘We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps’. He’s ultimately in control, and when we surrender our lives and plans to Him, He’ll guide us and lead us into what He wants us to do.

What Now?

What goals do you have right now? Take them to God and ask Him whether they’re goals He wants you to have.