5 Reasons Goal Setting is Better than Making Resolutions

Goals put God in the driver's seat, rather than your might.

Resolutions are typically off-the-cuff, selfish desires that sound reasonable in the moment. They rely on your will and your might to achieve them. Let's face it. That's like putting a cookie before a three year old and telling them not to touch it.

Will power doesn't last long and neither will resolve to achieve a far off destination without setting measurable goals to track your progress.

When you set goals you can put God int he driver's seat and allow Him to highlight what areas of your life He wants to work on.

Goals are made with plans and purpose.

Let's say you want to lose 50 pounds in 12 months. That is a noble accomplishment, but is it realistic? How will you do it? How will you know you're track? Three months in to the circle around the sun and your 50-pound resolution will you have any idea how you're going to to stay the course?

Goals are meaningful.

If you've heard of SMART goals you know the M typically stands for Measurable. I talk about it in the Thriving Life Goal Setting Guide. But another “M” in SMART goals is meaningful.

When you pray through goal setting and spend time contemplating and planning, you create goals that are meaningful to you. When there's meaning behind something you are more likely to stick with is because you have made an investment into the thing.

Goals get to the root of the matter. 

Does this sound familiar? The new year is bearing down on you like run away train. On the train all the resolutions and declarations you made and yet only a handful have been partially accomplished. Behind this speeding bullet comes the New Year's train with empty cars just waiting to be filled.

Stop!

Get off the crazy train! When you stop getting caught up in Resolution Season and prayerfully consider goals for you and your family, you no only stop the crazy train but you can get to the heart of the matters that are concerning you.

Losing weight is almost never a bad idea yet what is the root of the weight gain, over eating, or lack of exercise? Goals allow time for you to dig deep and change not just external circumstances but also spiritual and emotional ones too.

Goals are not vows, vows can be dangerous. 

We tend to focus on the positive aspect of resolutions which most people make. I have too in the above points. But there's an ugly side to resolution-making. Resolutions made out of anger, hurt, or spit are dangerous.

Not all vows are bad. We make a marriage vow, which is a life-long, sacred commitment, under God to our spouse. This is a good thing.

A vow is a serious commitment and when broken, can have serious consequences in God's economy. We can't make vows flippantly.

Vows can lay a dangerous trap for us because they are often unrealistic and will be broken. Often, subconsciously, we feel guilt because we can't keep a vow we spoke. Worse, is when we see our life playing out the vow we made out of anger, frustration, or hurt.

The Road of Life

In life, it's about the journey, not the destination.

Some may argue that this isn't biblical because we must be heavenly minded and focused on our true home – Heaven. I agree, Heaven is our true home. We are to be so focused on heaven that we see how God is working here on Earth and we surrender our lives to Him. This is why we set goals, not to as we please but in surrender and partnership with Him.

As a Christian, you know were you are going. Your name is in the Book of Life. Living well this journey you are on as Christ's ambassador should be your focus. When it is, you allow Him to work in you and through you.

Help for your Journey

Not sure where to get started? Grab my free printable on creating a Word of the Year. As a member of our community you have access to our free word of the year planning guide.