“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.” Psalms 32:8-9 NIV

Tom and I like to begin the year with a season of prayer and fasting. Why? We want our relationship with God to set the tone for the year. What characteristics does He want to build in us? What weaknesses will we work on? What does God want me to know about Him this year? What goals does God want me to set to help me grow toward the person He designed me to be?

 Setting God-centered goals starts with asking God what He wants. This goal-setting process begins in the final quarter of the previous year. That is when I begin praying, listening, and looking to discover my word for the next year. That word becomes a guide as I enter the fasting and prayer season. This process of praying and waiting is about staying open. By removing distractions, like sweet treats, social media, or mindless games on my phone, I make space for God to speak. And He does.

 God-centered goals often lead us in unexpected ways to unexpected places with unexpected people. Last year one of my goals was to finally finish writing and publish the book that has been in process for a decade, The YES Adventure. That goal led me to apply for an aspiring author’s cohort with a well-known writer and speaker…and I was accepted! I received one one-on-one input from a woman whose ministry I have admired for several years. Her guidance helped me finally see a clear structure for my book. Not only that, but I also received meaningful personal ministry from her at a conference several years ago and was able to tell her how much she had impacted me. After the online meeting she called to tell me she had left that conference discouraged and wondering if she had connected with anyone. I said, “You did! With me!”

I didn’t know about that cohort in January. If I had not recognized God’s nudge to make the book a priority I would never have applied for the group, received clarity on structure, or had the opportunity to encourage my mentor. The goal wasn’t just about the task, but the people who became part of helping me complete the task. Developing tenacity, learning techniques, and influencing people have all been a part of the book project. It’s so much more than achieving a goal. It’s about the growth, more than the goal.

God-centered goals are about God’s plan for my growth. Every goal is about growth. Finishing my book took energy and focus unlike anything else I have done. The process has changed me in ways I have yet to fully identify. I have been aware of God’s presence in the process. Each step led to something new I had to learn, doing something I had never done before and a new way I needed to grow.

The book is with a professional editor now. Another thing I have never done before. I will let you know when it is published! (Sign up here to stay on my list and get updates.)

 Are you prepared to let God lead you where He wants you to go this year, even if it isn’t where you expect?  When you follow His unexpected leading, you’ll find yourself where you didn’t even know you wanted to be. You’ll grow in ways you didn’t know you needed to grow. And best of all, you will be in the center of God’s will. Isn’t that the best and safest place to be?

 Key Question: What is God’s goal for me this year?

A Scripture to Consider: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.” Psalms 32:8-9 NIV

A YES Challenge: Take time to write out things you’d like to accomplish this year. Set aside several days to pray over your list and ask God to lead you to two or three that are important to Him. Enlist a trusted friend to help you discern the will of God.  

Prayer: Father God, I want Your will for my life. Help me to seek You and Your will. Guide me toward the goals that are important to You. Those are the goals that will satisfy me most. Use these goals to help me become the person You designed me to be. Amen.