Are you excited to set spiritual goals but need some help? Have you always dreamed of growing spiritually, having a stronger relationship with God, and spending more time with God, perhaps on a daily basis?
This article has tons of spiritual goals examples and instructions for our FREE spiritual goal setting worksheet so that you can set your goals and accomplish them! The free printable will help you with your purpose in life!
Setting goals that match your spiritual health, desire, and mindset are crucial. Using the right strategies, ideas, and examples will help you realize success with your spirituality.
You won’t want to miss out on this exciting journey as you go from someone with no organized goals to having them all written out in an achievable way! Develop your beliefs and religious desires through a path of effective goal setting.
Be sure to read the first article in this series about how to get started setting spiritual goals! That will give you the best idea on how to set your goals – SMART goals that work for you and why setting goals is so important!
Then, you can map out your goal ideas using this article’s information! It’s a deluxe set that you’ll want to grab!
Whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. – 1 Cor 10:31 (NET)
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What are Spiritual Goals?
Spiritual Goals can be anything you want them to be, but ideally, they bring you closer to God. Rather than focusing on selfish ambitions, spiritual goals tend to focus on your relationship with God and how to make that relationship stronger. Any goal can be turned into a spiritual one if set properly; you just need to focus on your spirit rather than on yourself.
If you haven’t checked out our article on spiritual goals, be sure to read it! It goes into full detail on what a spiritual goal is, how to set achievable spiritual goals (a step-by-step process), the importance of spiritual goals, and more so that you can create spiritual goals that you will actually achieve! You can read more about this article here: Spiritual Goals: How to Get Started.
Be sure to pray before deciding on any goal. If you need help in that area, check out How to Pray for Beginners.
Remember that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. If you have big dreams, just break them down into smaller and smaller steps, and before you know it, you’ll have reached the stars!
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:13 (NLT)
SMART Goals for Spiritual Growth
A SMART goal is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. If you are creating a spiritual goal, you will want it to have those traits because that makes it attainable. You are much more likely to succeed with a SMART goal than a lofty one that you set without much thought put into it. If you aren’t specific enough, you’ll likely not achieve your goals.
This two-minute video will give you the ins and outs of what a SMART goal is and how to set one successfully.
To set SMART goals, ask yourself the following questions.
- What do I want to accomplish?
- Why is this important to me?
- Who will be my accountability partner?
- When do I hope to achieve this goal?
- How will I know when I have accomplished this goal?
- How can I specifically achieve this objective?
- Is this goal right for me right now in my life?
- What can I do today to take a step closer to this goal?
Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God, everything is possible. – Matt 19:26b (NLT)
Spiritual Goals Examples
Short-Term Spiritual Goal Examples
Short-term goals typically range from a day to six months. It really all depends on how you define them, what you are able to accomplish in the short term, and how much time you have available for goals in your life.
Make sure you find out what is most relevant and real for you. What works for one person is not going to work for another. You need to decide what you believe you can reasonably accomplish, and don’t compare your journey to that of anyone else. We are all made differently for a reason!
At the same time, be sure to challenge yourself. Don’t give yourself such easy goals that they are things you are already doing or will be doing because of the way your life is progressing.
Challenge yourself just enough to excite yourself, but don’t get overwhelmed by too many goals.
Here are some great examples to get you started on this powerful journey.
Daily Spiritual Goals
- Write in a prayer journal.
- Pray for guidance, patience, and joy daily.
- Read a daily devotional book.
- Listen to an audio version of the Bible daily.
- Follow a Bible reading plan.
- Do a random act of kindness (See: Check the Free Resources).
- Talk to God about the desires in your heart.
- Post something encouraging on social media.
- Meditate on God’s Word daily.
- Read one Proverb a day.
- Spend at least 15 minutes a day with God.
- Write in a gratitude journal daily.
- Spend 30 minutes a day doing Bible study.
Weekly Spiritual Goals
- Create or purchase a prayer journal.
- Go to a Celebrate Recovery meeting.
- Attend weekly CR step study group meetings.
- Memorize scripture you love (learn more: CR Serenity Prayer).
- Set up a gratitude journal.
- Go to church.
- Start a list of prayers for other people.
- Talk to someone about their spiritual journey.
- Watch or listen to an online sermon.
- Do a word study on a key word from the Bible.
- Listen to more worship music.
- Meet new people at church.
Monthly Spiritual Goals
- Join a Bible study group.
- Volunteer at your church.
- Go on a prayer walk.
- Read one book of the Bible.
- Tithe.
- Seek out a new Christian friend.
- Donate a box of goodies to a local charity.
- Read a book of encouragement.
- Invite someone to church.
- Commit to a fast.
- Serve in your church or community.
- Talk to someone about your spirituality.
- Do a topical Bible study.
- Create or purchase a gratitude journal.
- Get involved in a charity.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. – Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
Long-Term Spiritual Goal Examples
Long-term goals usually last longer than a few months. However, these goals can last a lifetime, so there are plenty of examples of each kind. You may be able to tackle an annual goal, but a lifetime goal is something you spend your life working on. Don’t ignore them, though.
Just because a lifetime goal is a little vague doesn’t mean you can brush it away as if it were impossible. The key to achieving a lifetime goal is consistency and creating measurable, smaller goals. You would break down a large goal into monthly, weekly, or even daily goals.
If it sounds too complicated or overwhelming, don’t allow it to! That’s just Satan trying to prevent you from achieving any of your spiritual goals!
Instead, make smaller, more attainable goals out of your lifetime goals, and you will reap the rewards when you get to that point in your life!
Spiritual Goals 2022
- Read the entire Bible.
- Learn a new Bible study method (like SOAP or HEAR)!
- Spread kindness.
- Determine what your spiritual gifts are.
- Join a spiritual retreat.
- Do a fast as a family.
- Strengthen a spiritual friendship.
- Host a Bible study.
- Find a godly mentor.
- Go on a mission trip.
- Practice forgiveness to those who have hurt you.
- Lead a Celebrate Recovery meeting.
- Join a church.
- Support missionaries.
- Learn Bible quilting.
- Lead a Bible study group.
- Read the entire New Testament.
- Get involved in a charity.
- Read an encouraging book.
- Attend a theology class.
- Learn how to do verse mapping.
- Purchase books for your Bible reference library.
- Mentor a new Christian.
- Join a small group at church.
- Write your spiritual testimony.
- Give your Celebrate Recovery testimony!
Lifetime Spiritual Goals
- Stay active in your church.
- Increase your spiritual discipline.
- Improve spiritual discernment.
- Continue to grow in your faith.
- Do verse mapping to the entire Bible.
- Take a leap of faith (outside of your comfort zone).
- Evangelize more in your life.
- Paraphrase the Bible (Write out the Bible in your own words).
- Be patient and understanding.
- Be encouraging to others.
- Wreck your entire Bible (learn how to do this with the SOAP method!
- Get creative and do Bible journaling.
- Be grateful for all the gifts God has blessed your life with.
- Be a Proverbs 31 woman.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
Resources for Setting and Accomplishing Spiritual Goals
FREE Spiritual Goal Setting Worksheet
Check out our FREE Spiritual Goal Setting Worksheet in the shop! It has everything you need to set and accomplish your spiritual goal or print several for every one of your goals! Do what works best for you and your needs!
Spiritual Goal Setting Worksheet
How to Fill Out a Spiritual Goal Setting Worksheet
Priority Level
With the Spiritual Goal Setting Worksheet, you’ll want to start with deciding how important this goal is to you. Of course, all goals are critical, but how motivated are you to achieve them?
Decide on the priority that the goal will be in your life. It might be high, medium, or low; it totally depends on you and what works best for you.
What I Am Doing Well
Next, you’ll want to focus on the things that you are already doing well. This might mean that you are motivated, driven, and focused on achieving this goal. Perhaps, you have already taken several steps in the right direction.
Jot down that information so that you can refer to it as you work on your goal. You want to know that you are already on the right track.
What I Need to Improve
After that, you’ll want to look at the places that need improvement. You might need to implement new steps in your daily life to get closer to this goal. On the other hand, if you are starting a new goal that you have never attempted before, you could need to break it down into smaller, more achievable steps. The important thing is that you recognize what you need to do next.
Goal Start and Completion Dates
It’s a good idea to note the start date of your goal and the date you hope to achieve the goal.
If your goal is to read the entire Bible in a year and you begin this goal on January 1, your start date would be January 1, and your end day would be the last day of the year, December 31. These dates will help keep you accountable and remind you when you need to achieve what.
You should now have a solid understanding and definition of what your goal is.
My Goal
Write down the details that make the goal a SMART goal. If you know that you will involve friends and family members in this goal, share your spiritual goal with them and explain what you are trying to accomplish and why. You are much more likely to achieve your goals if you involve others!
Steps to Reaching My Goal
Be sure to write down the individual steps that you believe must be achieved in order to accomplish your goal. In this worksheet, there is room for 4 steps to reaching your goal.
Feel free to add an additional sheet of paper or write on the back of the worksheet if you have more steps than you can fit on the worksheet.
How My Goal Will Bring Me Closer to God
Finally, you’ll want to record the ways in which your goals are bringing you closer to God. A spiritual goal is not really considered to be spiritual if you do not involve God.
God longs for His children to have a relationship with Him, so include Him in your goals – no matter what they are! You will be glad you did!
Other Things to Include
Add the name of your accountability partner to your spiritual goal-setting worksheet. Don’t forget to write about how this goal will impact your spiritual life. You always want to see the big picture when looking at your goals.
It might be a good idea to write down key actions you will need to do to get started, how you will measure your goal, how your life will be better once you achieve your goal, and what your reward will be for achieving your goal!
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. – Romans 12:2 (NLT)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is spiritual development?
Spiritual development occurs when you believe in God, who is beyond this universe, present in the bigger picture, and beyond comprehension in this world. God is all-powerful, and spiritual development will bring you closer to a strong relationship with Him, which should be your ultimate goal in life.
What are examples of spiritual goals?
Examples of spiritual goals include reading the Bible on a daily basis, going to church services once a week, or making new Christian friends to enrich your life. Spiritual goals bring you closer to God and help you build a meaningful relationship with Him – something that will give you hope and encouragement throughout life.
How can I help my child grow spiritually?
You can be a good example to your child by praying with them, teaching them how to pray on their own, reading the Bible together with them, explaining stories in the Bible, explaining the meaning of Christian holidays, signing them up for church camp, and getting involved in charities with your child.
What is the goal of spiritual growth?
The goal of spiritual growth is to grow closer to God in a meaningful, lasting way. It’s also part of your mission as a Christian to spread the Gospel, to understand the scriptures and God better by reading and studying your Bible, and by living a Christ-like lifestyle – one that would be pleasing in the sight of God.
What are wellness spiritual goals?
Spiritual wellness involves how you are doing as a Christian. Many of your everyday actions can contribute to spiritual wellness, including being a positive example to your children, participating in volunteer opportunities, connecting with other Christians, being more optimistic, and practicing self-care. Assess your spiritual wellness.
Conclusion
One very important thing about setting any goal is to not overwhelm yourself! Make sure your spiritual goals reflect who you want to be in the future and align properly with the spiritual life of your dreams.
Don’t forget to read about Spiritual goal setting in our first article, How to Get Started Setting Spiritual Goals. Also, be sure to grab the FREE Spiritual Goal-Setting Worksheet in the shop!
It’s your turn to make your dreams a reality by mapping out your goals on paper, so print out as many worksheets as you need and get to work on your spiritual goals!
If you found this article helpful, please share it on social media or with your friends, family, or church. We’d love to hear from you, too. Leave a comment as to what your goals will be in the coming year!
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. – James 1:5 (NIV)
