Setting Your Spiritual Goals for 2024

Published December 12, 2023

It’s that time of the year again. A new year has started, but we achieved nothing last year. And yet, we somehow have to write down a new set of goals for this year.

Here are some tips if you’re feeling lost on what spiritual goals you should set for 2024.

What Are Spiritual Goals?

Each of us has different types of goals for the new year. Some want good health, while others may wish for professional advancement. But whatever it is, there’s only one purpose: to achieve something.

This is primarily why we have goals: to realize an outcome we yearn for. And one thing that most humans almost always yearn for is spiritual enlightenment.

Simply put, spiritual goals are the objectives we set for ourselves to get closer to God.

Why do we need spiritual goals?

We may have different religious beliefs, but if one thing binds us all, it’s the thirst for spiritual nourishment.

While most of us go to church, recite prayers, and take part in various spiritual rites, most of the time, this isn’t enough to fill that void inside us. That void causes us to crave a deeper connection with ourselves and our creator.

This is what spiritual goals are for. It helps us grow and mature spiritually and build a better relationship with God and our fellows.

How To Set Spiritual Goals for 2024

Before you go about writing down what you want to achieve spiritually for this year, here are a few reminders to keep in mind:

Ask for Guidance

Setting your goals for a whole year can be confusing. Sometimes, there’s just so much you want to do that you don’t know where to start.

If you’re stuck in a rut, don’t be afraid to ask for His guidance. Pray that you’ll be enlightened as to his plans for you. All of us are here for a purpose, including you. Lift all your doubts and aspirations and pray that He’ll lead you to the path He has prepared for you.

Evaluate Your Year

A famous saying goes: you cannot change the past, but learn from it. Indeed, the greatest lessons we can ever learn are from our experiences.

Think about your goals last year. Which of them have you achieved? Which of them proved too much? Where do you think you went wrong? Asking yourself these questions can help you formulate a better plan for the year ahead.

Envision Your Goals

Picture yourself a year from now. What’s your spiritual life like?

Creating a vision of your goals will help you break them into smaller, actionable plans. Imagine the things you want to achieve. If it helps, list it all down on paper. Then, create a graph or a diagram – whatever it is that can help you envision your spiritual objectives.

Keep It Real

Having goals is good. But having too many goals can be exhausting. One thing is consistently accurate in life and goal-setting: never bite off more than you can chew. Instead of achieving your objectives, you might end up too stressed and frustrated. It can lead you to lose your drive and give up even before you realize your goals.

So keep it accurate. Make sure that your goals are possible and attainable. Start with the basics. Avoid aiming for things that you know you can never do.

Don’t Be Too Hard on Yourself

If you fail to achieve a goal, don’t be disheartened. More importantly, don’t punish yourself for what you couldn’t do.

Just keep on trying. God sees your struggles and pains. He will never forsake you. Pray for fortitude and the strength to keep moving forward.

(Related: The Most Valuable Lessons We Learned From Tuesday with Morrie)