How to Set Godly Goals

Summary

Have you ever spent hours mapping out a five-year plan only to have God throw a wrench in it two weeks later? It is frustrating when our timelines don't match His divine plans. In this episode of the Arise, Women of God podcast, host Tamara K. Anderson along with Wendi Christensen and Kari Anjewierden break down exactly how to set Godly goals that align with heaven.

We explore a three-part framework for spiritual planning, starting with the reality of "divine detours." Tamara shares her humbling story of a rigid 19-year-old plan that God completely upended, proving that sometimes the delay is the most important part of the journey. Wendi opens up about an internal goal to overcome anger as a young mother, showing why who you are becoming is often more important than what you are achieving. Finally, Kari offers powerful advice for those moments when heaven seems silent—revealing why moving forward with a "whole heart" (Colossians 3:23) is often the key to unlocking God's guidance. If you are ready to stop guessing and start aligning your ambition with His assignment, this episode is for you.

Episode Takeaways

1. Seek First the Kingdom: Based on Matthew 6:33, the foundation of any Godly goal is putting God first. When you surrender your plan to Him, He guides the outcome—even if it looks nothing like your original five-year plan.
2. Embrace Divine Detours: Sometimes God interrupts our perfectly laid plans not to punish us, but to redirect us. A "wrench in the gears" (like Tamara's school change) is often God's way of steering you toward a mission you didn't know you needed.
3. Internal Goals > External Achievements: Wendi's story of working for two years to conquer reactive anger illustrates that Godly goals are often about character sanctification rather than checking boxes. These internal victories are what truly build the Kingdom.
4. Move When Heaven is Silent: If you pray and hear nothing, don't freeze. Kari teaches that we should move forward with what we know, remain flexible, and work "heartily as to the Lord." God can steer a moving ship much easier than a docked one.

Resources

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Reflection Questions

1. Look at your current 5-year plan (or general life plan). If God threw a "wrench" in it tomorrow, would you be willing to let it go?
2. Is there an internal character trait (like patience, anger, or fear) that God is asking you to set a goal around right now?
3. Have you ever stopped moving because you didn't get a clear "yes" from God? How does the advice to "move forward and be flexible" change your approach?