Living in Increase (Part 12) - Increase in Focusનમૂનો

The Mindset of Goal Setting

Our mindset, or how we think about ourselves and our lives, determines our ability to achieve our goals. If we live with a mindset of lack, we will always experience lack in life. We will always fall short of our goals if we do not believe we can achieve them. In his book Winning the War in Your Mind, Craig Groeschel states, “Your life will always move in the direction of your strongest thoughts. What we think shapes who we are.”

The late and great Henry Ford said it this way: “Whether you think you can or think you can’t — you’re right.”

This is not just a worldly view on mindset. In the book of Proverbs, even Solomon wrote, “For as he thinks within himself, so he is” (Proverbs 23:7).

In other words, your mindset determines your abilities. This is one of the few areas where the Bible and the scientific community mostly agree. Science calls it the “Law of Attraction,” while the Bible calls it the “Mind of Christ.”Learning how to have the mind of Christ will change the trajectory of your life.

Ephesians 1:20 tells us that every Christ-follower has the same Holy Spirit within them that raised Christ from the dead. Think about that for a moment. The Spirit that allowed Jesus to rise in His flesh after three days of being dead lives within us! I get so excited thinking about this Scripture. It’s a reminder that God did not call us to mediocracy. He called us to flourish, live in abundance, and carry out the purpose He designed us for. More importantly, He equips us with the Holy Spirit to accomplish our purpose. 1 Corinthians 2:12 says, “And we have received God’s Spirit so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given to us.” If you know God called you to a purpose and are not setting goals to achieve that purpose, are you living in the abundance God wants to provide for you? He has wonderful things waiting for you; what is holding you back?

The first step to goal setting is to capture the mind of Christ. There are a few steps you can take to create the mind of Christ.

Capture your thoughts. In 2 Corinthians, Paul gave us the key to changing our mindset by taking our negative thoughts captive. Every time you have a negative thought, acknowledge that thought. Acknowledging the thought reduces its power over you. The enemy likes to sneak whispers of lies into our minds. When we catch those whispers and identify them as lies, they lose their power over us. After acknowledging and recognizing the negative thought as a lie, you replace it with biblical truths using Scripture.

Example: Negative thought: I can’t do this; I’m not good enough.

Biblical Truth: I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13)

Create an Attitude of Gratitude. If the key to changing your mindset is changing your thoughts, then let’s think about good things. Or, as Colossians 3:1 says, “Think on things from above.” You can do this by taking 2-3 minutes daily and writing down 3-5 things you are grateful for. Gratitude and negativity cannot co-exist!

Create Affirmations. This is the same thing you do when you are capturing your thoughts. The key is to start your morning with Biblical affirmations, and you will find yourself capturing fewer negative thoughts.

Example: Scripture: “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe in Him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead” (Ephesians 1:19-20).

Affirmation: I am an overcomer because I have within me the same Holy Spirit that raised Christ from the dead working inside of me. With Him, I can do all things.

Now, you’ve been given the key to achieving goals! It’s the power and mind of Christ that achieves the goals in and through you–not you in your own strength. So get to work putting the mind of Christ into practice!

Lindsey Whitney

Action Step: Capture your negative thoughts as you go about your day. Write them down and return to Scripture to reverse them into a biblical affirmation.