There’s something sacred about the turning of a year.
Not because the calendar itself holds power, but because it invites us to pause, breathe, and ask a holy question:
What will I build with the time God is giving me?
We often enter January with big dreams, fresh ideas, renewed energy, and a desire to grow. But spiritual goal‑setting isn’t just about ambition. It’s about alignment. It’s about listening. It’s about writing the vision while trusting the God who shapes the path.
Three Scriptures offer a beautiful framework for approaching the year ahead with clarity, hope, and humility.
1. God’s Heart for Your Future: Jeremiah 29:11
KJV:
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
NKJV:
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Before you write a single goal, God wants you to know this:
His intentions toward you are good.
His thoughts toward you are peaceful.
His plans for you are hopeful.
This is the foundation of all Spirit‑led planning.
You are not striving for a future you must create alone.
You are stepping into a future God has already envisioned.
2. Your Plans, God’s Direction: Proverbs 16:9
KJV:
“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.”
NKJV:
“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”
This verse gives us permission to plan boldly.
To dream.
To map out the year with intention.
But it also reminds us that planning is not the same as controlling.
You can set the direction of your heart, but God will guide the movement of your feet.
Sometimes He accelerates. Sometimes He redirects. Sometimes He slows you down so you don’t miss what He’s doing.
This is not a limitation—it’s a comfort.
You plan.
He leads.
Together, you walk.
3. Write It Clearly: Habakkuk 2:2
KJV:
“Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.”
NKJV:
“Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.”
Once you know God’s heart for your future…
Once you’ve opened your hands to His direction…
Then comes the practical step: write the vision.
Not vaguely.
Not halfway.
Not hidden in your mind where it can fade.
Write it plainly.
Write it boldly.
Write it where you can see it and run with it.
A written vision becomes a companion for the year, guiding your decisions, anchoring your focus, and reminding you why you started.
A Framework for Spirit‑Led Goal Setting
1. Begin With God’s Heart
Start with Jeremiah 29:11.
Let hope, not pressure, shape your goals.
2. Plan With Open Hands
Hold Proverbs 16:9 close.
Make your plans, but stay sensitive to God’s leading.
3. Write the Vision Clearly
Follow Habakkuk 2:2.
Put your goals, dreams, and intentions into words you can return to all year.
4. Break It Into Faithful Steps
Big visions move through small, consistent actions.
Weekly habits. Monthly milestones. Quarterly reflections.
5. Review and Run
Return to your written vision often.
Let it fuel your momentum and keep you aligned.
Closing Reflection
You don’t need to have the whole year figured out.
You don’t need a perfect plan.
You don’t need certainty about every step.
You simply need:
- a heart anchored in God’s hope
- a willingness to plan with Him
- and a vision written clearly enough to run with
God is already in your future.
Your job is to walk with Him, one faithful step at a time.
I am definitely guilty of procrastination and inconsistency, which is somewhat ironic because I’m a routine person. My normal days are spent doing the same routine on the same schedule. I don’t really get bored with repetition. I can actually listen to one song on repeat all day, but this blog, for instance: I’ve started and stopped twice, I think? Then, in December, after my Christmas post, I missed the next three weeks. I’ve started and then stopped a ton of hobbies and interests, and I’ve also quit a career I’m still really passionate about. The takeaway I have from pursuing that career is that I did it! I went from the bottom to the top of the bottom. What helped was the planning and goal-setting. Over the last few weeks, I’ve been planning and prepping to “go, again”.
To help you on your journey, I’m sharing my planning templates, which I hope you’ll find helpful. (Click Here)
- Inspired Goals
- Daily Time Box
- Weekly Planner
I hope these tools bless you as much as they’ve helped me refocus.
If something in this stirred your heart, don’t let it slip away.
Take a moment today, download the templates, write your vision clearly, and choose one small step you can take this week.
And when you do, share it with me. I’d love to cheer you on, learn from your process, and keep refining these tools so we can grow forward together.
Your first step doesn’t have to be big. It just has to be faithful.
The Eleven One 
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