Why Spiritual Goals Fail + What Works

The Goal-Setting Trap That's Keeping You Stuck

It's the middle of February, and you're already feeling it, aren't you?

That familiar weight of disappointment settling in your chest as you realize your spiritual goals are already slipping away.

Maybe you started the year determined to read through the Bible, spend more time in prayer, or finally develop that consistent journaling practice you've been talking about for years.

But here you are, you're second month in, and you're already falling behind.

Already making excuses.

Already wondering why you can't seem to follow through on the things that matter most to your heart.

I used to think this was just a discipline problem.

That I needed to try harder, be more consistent, find better systems.

But after years of this cycle - setting spiritual goals in January, failing by February, and starting over again the next year - I realized something that changed everything:

The problem wasn't my lack of discipline.

The problem was that I was trying to bless my plans instead of partnering with God in His plans for my life.

There's a massive difference between the two.

And once you understand it, everything about how you approach spiritual growth will shift.

The Difference Between Blessing Your Plans and Partnering with God

When we try to bless our plans, we come to God with our agenda already set.

We've decided what we need to work on, how we're going to do it, and what timeline makes sense.

Then we ask God to help us succeed at what we've already determined is best.

It sounds spiritual, but it's actually putting us in the driver's seat and asking God to be our copilot.

Partnering with God looks completely different.

It starts with surrender instead of strategy.

It begins with asking Him what He wants to do in our hearts this year, not just asking Him to help us accomplish what we think needs to happen.

It means being willing to let Him set the pace, choose the focus, and even change the direction when necessary.

When you journal in December, frantically trying to figure out what your spiritual goals should be, you're operating from the blessing-your-plans mentality.

When you sit down to journal and ask God what He's already stirring in your heart and how you can join Him in that work, you're moving into partnership.

The difference isn't just semantic.

It's the difference between sustainable growth and another year of spiritual frustration.

What God-Centered Goal Setting Actually Looks Like

So what does it look like to actually partner with God in setting goals for your life?

It's not as complicated as you might think, but it does require something most of us aren't used to: slowing down long enough to listen.

Here's how I've learned to approach spiritual goal setting:

Start with surrender, not strategy.

Before you think about what you want to accomplish, spend time asking God what He wants to accomplish in you.

Open your journal and write: "God, what do You want to do in my heart this year?"

Then sit quietly and listen.

Don't rush this part.

Pay attention to what He's already highlighting.

Sometimes God speaks through the things that keep coming up in your prayers, the verses that keep jumping out at you, or the conversations that keep stirring something in your heart.

What themes has He been weaving through your life lately?

What areas is He gently (or not so gently) nudging you toward growth in?

Ask Him about the how, not just the what.

Once you sense what God might be stirring, ask Him how He wants you to pursue it.

Maybe He's calling you to deeper intimacy with Him - but does that look like more time in prayer, a new Bible study, or learning to hear His voice more clearly?

Maybe He's stirring compassion in your heart - but does that mean volunteering, having more grace with difficult people, or starting that ministry idea you've been thinking about?

Make space for His timing.

This is the hardest part for those of us who like to plan and control.

God-centered goals aren't always about doing more or achieving faster.

Sometimes they're about learning to rest, to wait, to trust His process over our timeline.

The Journal Questions That Change Everything

I want to share with you the specific questions I've learned to ask when I'm partnering with God in goal setting.

These aren't magic formulas, but they've become sacred conversation starters between me and Him:

"God, where do You see me growing this year?"

This question shifts the focus from what I think I need to fix about myself to what He sees as my next step of growth.

"What do You want me to release so I can receive what You have for me?"

Sometimes the biggest barrier to our growth isn't what we need to add - it's what we need to let go of.

Old mindsets, unhealthy relationships, the need to control outcomes.

"How do You want to use my story this year?"

This question has completely transformed how I think about my struggles and victories.

Instead of seeing them as just personal experiences, I get to see them as part of how God might want to encourage others.

"What would it look like to trust You more in this area of my life?"

This one gets specific about where fear or control might be keeping me from experiencing His best.

"How do You want me to love others differently this year?"

Because spiritual growth that doesn't overflow into how we treat people isn't really spiritual growth at all.

Here's what I've discovered: when you start asking these questions in your journal, something beautiful happens.

Your goals stop being about proving yourself and start being about partnering with Him.

Your motivation stops coming from guilt or comparison and starts flowing from His love and purpose for your life.

Your timeline stops being about rushing toward some finish line and starts being about enjoying the journey with Him.

And when you mess up (because you will), it doesn't derail everything because the goal was never perfection anyway.

The goal was partnership.

Why This Approach Actually Works (When Willpower Fails)

You know what I love most about God-centered goal setting?

It doesn't depend on you having it all together.

It doesn't require you to be the type of person who naturally follows through on everything.

It doesn't even require you to feel motivated every single day.

Because here's the truth: when your goals are rooted in partnership with God rather than performance for God, everything shifts.

You're not carrying the weight alone.

Instead of trying to muster up enough discipline to change your life, you get to lean into His strength when yours runs out.

And trust me, yours will run out.

But His never does.

You have a purpose bigger than yourself.

When your goals connect to what God is doing in and through your life, you're not just trying to become a better version of yourself.

You're participating in something eternal.

That kind of purpose has staying power that personal improvement goals just don't have.

You have grace for the process.

This might be the biggest game-changer of all.

When you're partnering with God in your growth, failure doesn't mean starting over.

It means learning, adjusting, and keeping going.

Because the goal was never to be perfect.

The goal was to grow closer to Him and become more like Him in the process.

You have community support.

Speaking of support, this is exactly why I created the Still + Seeking - The Journal Project Community.

Because spiritual goal setting isn't meant to be done alone.

When you're surrounded by other women who are also learning to hear God's voice and partner with Him in their growth, everything becomes more sustainable.

You get encouragement when motivation is low.

You get accountability that feels like love, not judgment.

You get to celebrate not just your wins, but the ways you're seeing God work in your life.

Your Next Step: Moving From Planning to Partnership

So where do you start?

Right where you are, with whatever time you have, using whatever journal is sitting on your shelf.

You don't need a perfect setup or a complete spiritual makeover.

You just need to be willing to have an honest conversation with God about what He wants to do in your life this year.

Here's what I want you to try this week:

Set aside 15 minutes for a goal-setting conversation with God.

Not a planning session.

Not a strategy meeting.

A conversation.

Start with this simple prayer:

"God, I want to partner with You in my growth this year. Show me what You're already stirring in my heart and how I can join You in that work."

Then pick up your pen and write whatever comes to mind.

Don't overthink it.

Don't worry about whether you're hearing Him "right."

Just write.

Ask Him the questions I shared earlier.

Listen for His response.

Pay attention to what themes keep surfacing.

And here's the most important part: take one small step forward.

Not ten steps.

Not a complete life overhaul.

One step.

Maybe it's setting aside five minutes each morning to ask God about your day.

Maybe it's choosing one area where you want to trust Him more and writing about it.

Maybe it's joining our Still + Seeking community so you have support as you learn to hear His voice more clearly.

Whatever it is, start there.

Because God-centered goal setting isn't about having a perfect plan.

It's about taking the next faithful step with Him.

The Invitation That Changes Everything

Here's what I know to be true: you weren't meant to figure out your spiritual growth alone.

You weren't meant to white-knuckle your way through another year of trying harder and falling short.

You weren't meant to wonder if God actually speaks to people like you or if that's just something other people experience.

God is inviting you into something so much better.

He's inviting you into partnership.

Into conversation.

Into a relationship where your growth becomes a beautiful collaboration between your willingness and His power.

And that's exactly what we're exploring together in the Still + Seeking - The Journal Project Community.

This isn't just another goal-setting group or accountability program.

This is a space where women are learning to hear God's voice, partner with Him in their growth, and support each other along the way.

Where you can ask questions without judgment.

Where you can share what you're learning and celebrate how you're growing.

Where you can discover that spiritual goal setting isn't about becoming perfect - it's about becoming more like Him.

If you're ready to stop trying to bless your plans and start partnering with God in His plans for your life, I'd love to have you join us.

If you're tired of surface-level goal setting that doesn't stick and ready for growth that's rooted in His love and purpose for your life, this community is for you.

If you want to learn how to hear His voice more clearly and respond with confidence, we're here to support you every step of the way.

Because here's the truth: when you partner with God in your growth, you don't just achieve different goals.

You become a different person.

And that's the kind of transformation that lasts.

Ready to discover what God-centered goal setting can look like in your life?

Join us in the Still + Seeking community and let's grow together.