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By Kelly Basham

Almost two months into the new year, many of us have set aside the goals we set in the new year. It might be because the idea of goals overwhelms you.

Sometimes I set aside my goal-achieving and goal-setting altogether because I fear I won’t achieve the goals I set and will end up feeling defeated. 

Revisiting the goals we set and even setting new goals altogether can be daunting, especially considering all the planning it takes to figure out our goals. The work required and obstacles to overcome to reach our goals can overwhelm us, making us want to quit before we’ve even begun. 

Sound familiar?

We Don’t Have To Take On Our Goals By Ourselves

Thankfully we don’t have to take on the task of setting and achieving our goals ourselves. We aren’t alone in this! We can ask God to help us throughout our goal-making process and then rely on him to help us reach those goals. 

Six Things To Pray For When Goals Overwhelm You

Here are six things to pray and ask God for when we’re planning or revisiting our goals:

1. Pray for Discernment. God will supply us with wisdom and discernment to those who seek it. (James 1:5) Spend time in prayer and ask him to provide you with the clarity to discern what your goals should be. Inviting God into our goal-setting process will allow God to help us develop goals that are healthy and attainable.

2. Pray for Vision. God created us and knows how to direct us to achieve our goals best. Once you know your goals, ask God to help you formulate a realistically achievable plan with steps to help you attain those goals. 

True transformation takes time and planning. We can set all the goals we want, but ultimately, we need a clear vision of how to achieve our goals, or we won’t get very far. 

3. Pray for Strength. The temptation to quit can quickly set in when things get tough. Pray and ask God to give you a strong mind and body that’s determined to keep going when it’s difficult and you want to give up. Trying to do things in our power will only deplete us, but with God’s strength, we can persevere when we are weary and tired. 

4. Pray for Grace. We can be hard on ourselves when we don’t reach our goals. Remember that no one is perfect. Ask God to help you extend yourself grace when you miss the mark. God can provide us with the ability to forgive ourselves, dust ourselves off, and try again when we don’t quite reach our goals.

5. Pray for a Teachable Heart. It’s not easy to admit our mistakes and failures, nor is it an enjoyable experience to examine them so we can learn from them. Pray for God to make your heart willingly teachable so you can learn and grow from your shortcomings while on the path to reaching your goals. By taking a closer look at our errors, we can gain valuable knowledge that will enable us to achieve our goals. 

6. Pray For Humility. Sometimes we need help from others to attain our goals. But asking for help can be a bit unnerving for those (myself included) who fear vulnerability. If you struggle in this area, remember what Ecclesiastes 4:9 says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.” (NLT) Enlisting the help of others can help us to achieve our goals. Ask God to help you humbly seek help when needed. 

With God’s Help, We Can Persevere

Achieving our goals will require dedication and hard work. There will be hurdles to overcome and lessons to learn to reach our goals. And sometimes, we will mess up and experience setbacks. 

The next time you feel your goals are conquering you, remember to revisit the vision God gave you for your goals and lean on him to help you move toward them. Despite the challenges, with God’s help, we can persevere and be on our way to setting and achieving our goals in a healthy, attainable way. 

Wife Step: Write down something you want to achieve, and then ask God to help you formulate a plan to help you reach that goal. 

Grab our Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Schedule that Works for You!