quote:

ORIGINAL: 10SNE1?

I would like to hear your thoughts on "spiritual goals".

For the sake of clarity only, think of this as a Christian version of setting New Year's Resolutions: Read through the Bible in a year, X amount of time in prayer every day, begin a mentoring relationship, etc.

Do you believe that everyone should have spiritual goals? Do you like the use of the the term "goal"?

Do you believe goals and disciplines are simply interchangable terms or do you believe that one is more reflective of a correct attitude before God?

What is your opinion of the appropriateness of setting or suggesting goals for another? For example; if I am the leader of a Women's Bible Study is it appropriate for me to set a goal of 15 minutes a day in prayer for everyone in the class?

Do you believe that this is something which is always between God and the individual or does being in "leadership" extend to the suggesting of specific spiritual "goals". I'm not referring to general counsel such as a Pastor extolling his flock to pray, study the Scripture, fast etc. I'm thinking more in terms of a ministry leader "suggesting" that those under him spend X hours a week " with God", giving guidelines as to what that looks like and then inquiring as to whether it has been done or not.

Any thoughts?

ETA: I'm not referring to a mutually entered-into accountabilly relationship in which one has requested that another hold him or her accountable by asking about certain areas.

Hello greetings to you

Yes I agree a race a spiritual goal, we should have all have one common goal.

Psalms 19:1-6 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

Eccl 9:11-12 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

1 Cor 9:24-27 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Heb 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.