FYI - this is a post for all the Christians out there who are struggling with money.
It's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind and forget why we're here. We become so focused on our financial goals and our careers that we often forget to spend time with the One who loves us most.
Story Time
A few days ago, I was struck by the picture of how I was praying. You see, I was kneeling down with my hands folded on my futon, my knees on the ground. That's not what bothered me. What bothered me is that my whiteboard was right in front of me... and my giant 6' x 4' whiteboard has all of my business goals.
If anyone were to come into the room, it would look like I was praying to my business goals or only for my business goals.
I never, ever want to be caught serving my own goals.
Instead, I want God to create my goals. I sleep soundly knowing that God's blessing follows His distinct call.
Serve God, Not Your Goals
If you're a Christian, keeping your relationship with God at the forefront of your mind is vital. It's vital for your health, your soul, and your joy. After all, God created us to be loved by Him and to love Him back.
Here are three reasons why you should focus on serving God instead of your own goals.
1. God knows what's best for you and wants to give that to you.
We often think we know what's best for ourselves, but the truth is that only God knows what the future holds and all the tiny little details of everything that will happen. He knows what obstacles we'll face and how to help us overcome them. When we put our trust in Him, He will guide us down the path that's best for us.
That includes setting our goals! Yes, we're doers. We do things and have goals. Let God set your goals with you, and He'll guide you to them with joy.
2. Serving God will help you reach your goals because they're God's goals.
It may seem counterintuitive, but serving God is actually the best way to achieve your goals. When we try to go after our goals without His guidance, we often go down the wrong path. But when we seek His will first, He will help us accomplish things we never thought possible.
Think of King David vs. King Saul. King David asked God for guidance in his goal setting and in every step along the way. God blessed him and kept him safe. God also called him a "man after God's own heart." I'd love to be called that! Wouldn't you?
King Saul, on the other hand, didn't ask God for guidance in his goal setting or in each step. He sought God only when he was in trouble or when someone pressured him to seek God's guidance. Ultimately, God left him and took away His blessing.
Be a David, not a Saul.
3. Your relationship with God is more important than anything else.
At the end of our lives, our relationship with God is all that will matter. Everything else—our careers, our possessions, our accomplishments—will fade away. But our relationship with God is eternal. So make sure you're spending time cultivating that relationship every day.
It's not wrong to have goals or to want to achieve things, but our motives need to be in the right place. When we make goals our number one priority, it shows that we don't really trust God to provide for us or lead us in the right direction. We need to remember that God is sovereign and in control of all things. He knows what's best for us and has a plan for our lives.
Proverbs 16:9 says, "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." This verse is a reminder that we need to seek God's will for our lives and not try to force our own plans. When we trust in God and follow His leading, He will take us to places far beyond anything we could ever imagine on our own.
If you find yourself getting too caught up in your goals, take a step back and ask yourself why you're pursuing them. Is it because you truly believe that it's what God wants for you? Or are you trying to force life to go the way you want it to?
Be honest with yourself and seek God's guidance. He knows what's best for you and will help you achieve everything He has planned for your life.
Christian Coaching
If you're struggling with serving God, setting goals with God, and giving to God's Kingdom, I want to help you. This is what God brought me here to do.
Book a Free Coaching Session with me today. I'd love to see if God's brought us together to help you overcome the obstacles you're facing today. If not, I'll make sure to point you in the right direction.