This is the Turkish shooter from the Olympics, earning a silver medal. Nonchalant shooting. He was so practiced, so adept, he didn’t need all of the “essential” equipment. He was just a natural shooter. He hit the target comfortably because he had developed long term habits. In the same way, as believers, we need specific goals and a plan to attain them. The following will provide a framework for why we should plan and how to plan as Bible Believing Christians.

What does the Bible say about planning well?

Verses on Working Hard:

1. Proverbs 6:6-8 (LSB)
   “Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officer, or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest.”
2. Proverbs 10:4-5 (LSB)
   “Poor is he who works with a slack hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.”
3. Proverbs 13:4 (LSB)
   “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the soul of the diligent is made fat.”
4. Proverbs 20:4 (LSB)
   “The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, so he begs during the harvest and has nothing.”
5. Proverbs 26:13-15 (LSB)
   “The sluggard says, ‘There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square!’ As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.”

Verses on Planning Well:

1. Proverbs 6:6-8 (LSB)
   “Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officer, or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest.”
2. Proverbs 10:4-5 (LSB)
   “He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.”
3. Proverbs 24:30-34 (LSB)
   “I passed by the field of the sluggard and by the vineyard of the man lacking a heart of wisdom, and behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles; its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, and received discipline: ‘A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,’ then your poverty will come as a robber and your want like an armed man.”
4. Proverbs 21:5 (LSB)
   “The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.”
5. Proverbs 16:3 (LSB)
   “Commit your works to Yahweh, and your plans will be established.”

How are we to think through goals and planning for the future? Scripture calls us to work hard, to plan well, but to also trust in the Lord. We can’t do anything from our own hand- God can change the course of our life in an instant. It is by His power that we are even breathing one more breath right now. What does scripture say about our dependence upon Him?

John 15:5 (LSB)

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

Zechariah 4:6 (LSB)

“Then he said to me, ‘This is the word of Yahweh to Zerubbabel saying, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says Yahweh of hosts.'”

It is God’s Spirit that gives us the power to do anything- Not by human strength.

So Scripture calls us to three things-

1. WORK HARD

2) Plan Well

3) Depend on the Lord

With that being said, what is one way we can make a Smart Goal? What is a smart Goal?

Maybe you want to read the Word more. The following can be an example-

Specific:

I will read the Bible for 20 minutes every morning at 6 a.m. before starting my day.

Measurable:

I will complete at least one chapter from the Bible each day, keeping track of my progress with a Bible reading plan (such as the Gospels or Psalms) and marking off the chapters read.

Achievable: (Can you practically do it?)

I will set an alarm for 5:55 a.m. to ensure I wake up on time and set out my Bible the night before to avoid distractions. This will help me develop the habit of starting my day in God’s Word.

Relevant: (Motivations)

Reading the Bible daily at 6 a.m. aligns with my desire to deepen my relationship with God, grow spiritually, and start my day focused on His guidance.

Time-bound:

I will commit to this goal for 30 days to establish a consistent routine, then evaluate my progress at the end of the month to continue building on this habit.

Conclusion

As believers, we are accountable to God for our Time, Talents, and Resources. Without making goals and being fully dependent upon God, it will be hard to get our work done and give God glory. We need to make goals for every area of our lives. Think through how you are using your time for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Potential Categories for SMART GOALS

Finances, career, friends, sanctification, college, being in the Word, praying, finding a spouse, giving God glory, motivations, serving in the church.