What I Want My Children to Know... Godly Goal Setting

"I can do all things through Him

who strengthens me."

Philippians 4:13

As the new year begins, our minds tend to focus on all of the things we want to accomplish. The ability to set and work towards goals is huge! 

“Setting goals has many benefits,” says Katie Hurley, LCSW, author of How to Help Your Child Set and Reach Goals. She tells us they include the following:

  - Responsibility
  - Time Management 
  - Self Confidence
  - Resilience
  - Perseverance 

I personally set goals, especially at the beginning of a fresh new year; but how can I teach my children this valuable skill?

It seems that the number one way we can teach goal setting is by modeling and spending time discussing our children’s hopes and dreams.

Dr. Michele Borba has a 7 Step process we are trying at the Pratt Home:

Step 1:   Define the term Goal in a way your child can understand

Step 2:   Share your own goals and aspirations “I Will + What + When”

Step 3:   Help Kids create their dream list – write it down and make it fun

Step 4:   Tailor the goal to your child (eg. Finish a school project / read a book )

Step 5:   Help your child think through the steps to success

Step 6:   Track your child’s goal progress

Step 7:   Celebrate Family goal successes!

Read the details of this program @ Dr. Michele Borba's 7 Step Program

When discussing goals with your children teach them the acronym SMART:

 

Of course we want to use this teachable moment to discuss how God views the goals we are setting and the importance of including Him in our plans.

Kelly Balarie of Crosswalk.com has great insight into Godly goal setting.  A few items she suggests to consider:

How do you go about setting goals that really matter?
How do you pick things that God cares about?
And, what does God have to say about goals to begin with?

"I figure the best way to get clarity is to get under the Lord's authority and to see what he lays on my heart. I'll seek His word, then seek His heart in prayer and He will be faithful to speak what He wants changed, not what man wants changed, my ambitions want changed or what vanity wants changed." (Balarie)

She has made a list of 20 Bible Verses to consider when setting goals.
View it @ 20 Bible Verses for Goal Setting 

  

"Commit your work to the Lord,
    and your plans will be established."

Proverbs 16:3