What is the Difference Between a Goal and an Intention?

Summary

We have all heard the phrase, "Well, they had good intentions"—usually right after something goes terribly wrong! It makes us think that perhaps intentions don't really matter if the goal isn't reached. But is that true? In this episode of the Arise, Women of God podcast, host Tamara K. Anderson joins advisory board member Amanda Powell to answer the question: What is the difference between a goal and an intention?

We move from just hitting targets to actually changing our hearts by exploring the internal compass of goal setting. Tamara shares a relatable story about doing mountains of laundry—and how shifting her intention turned a loathed chore into an act of profound gratitude. We dive into 1 Samuel 16:7 to understand why God values a holy intention far more than a perfectly executed goal. Amanda also shares a raw story about how a 14-day migraine forced her to abandon her business goals, proving that when your intention is simply to "grow and listen to God," a delayed goal is never a failure. If you are exhausted by performance-based living and want to learn how to turn your hollow to-do list into a holy mission, this episode is packed with the practical steps you need.

Episode Takeaways

1. Goal vs. Intention: A goal is a future-focused outcome (a specific point on a map, like walking 10,000 steps). An intention is the present-moment purpose behind the goal (the heart and orientation of how you walk those steps).
2. The Laundry Epiphany: Tamara hated doing laundry until she realized her intention: she wanted to raise clean, capable, contributing children. The goal (washing clothes) stayed the same, but the intention changed her heart from resentment to gratitude.
3. 1 Samuel 16:7: "Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." The outward appearance is your checked box, your published book, or your lost weight. Your intention is your heart. God grades your intention, not just your execution.
4. Hollow vs. Holy Goals: If you exercise because you hate your body, that is a hollow goal. If you exercise because you want to be a good steward of the body God gave you, that is a holy intention. The action is the same; the spirit is entirely different.

Resources

Are you ready to stop checking boxes and start partnering with God? Download our FREE Guide to Goal Setting. It features the new "Vision to Victory" page, which includes a specific Intention Tracker to help you align your heart with 1 Samuel 16:7. 👉 Download the Guide Here: https://www.womenwarriorsoflight.com/offers/WyaLn2gS/checkout

Need accountability? Check out our Women Warriors Accountability Group for free for two weeks! https://www.womenwarriorsoflight.com/join-now

Reflection Questions

1. Look at your to-do list today. Are you a "slave to the result" or a "steward of the soul"?
2. Think of a chore or goal you currently loathe. How can you find a "holy intention" behind that task to change your heart toward it?
3. Read 1 Samuel 16:7. Have you been beating yourself up over a failed goal (the outward appearance) when God is actually pleased with your intention (the heart)?
4. If your goal is delayed (like Amanda's business), is your underlying intention to grow still intact?

Transcript

https://www.womenwarriorsoflight.com/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-a-goal-and-an-intention