{Faith and Fitness}: Ready, Set, GOAL!

We all have goals and ideas of what we would like to accomplish. Some of us want a faster 5k time. Some of us want to cut back on the calories. Some of us just want to become more disciplined in the area of fitness.  Lets cut to the chase, we all have goals but how many of us are consistently working towards achieving them? So often we get off track or make excuses as to why we were not intentional in moving forward. Below are a couple reasons we get off track (Roadblocks)  and ways we can combat that (Action).


-ROADBLOCK:   Satan does not want you to move forward when it comes to growth, especially when you are honoring and growing in the Lord through your goal setting/achieving. He wants us to believe lies and become stagnant. If you aren't growing or moving forward then you are of no worry to him.

-ACTION: The bible tells us to meditate on the Lord's word day and night. Fill your mind, renew your mind so that you can have a clear focus and vision and listen to the Truth that the Lord has told you and not the lies the enemy uses to disarm and hurt you. The Lord has come to give you life but the enemy has come to kill, steal and destroy. (Ps. 119, Romans 12:1-3, John 10:10)

- ROADBLOCK: We do not have written goals that are visible to be seen daily. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR FUTURE or GOALS to your memory.

-ACTION: Write them everywhere! Let it be a daily reminder of what you want and where you are going. Life gets hectic but if you have the reminder around you all the time its easier to stay focused.

-ROADBLOCK: You have not created a discipline/habit to achieve your goal. So its hit or miss.

-ACTION: It takes 21 days to form a habit. That means in the pursuit of your goal you must do the same action 21 days in a row for it to begin to be habitual. Try this, pick an action that will help you (daily) get closer to your goal. Start it within the next 48 hours, stay with it for 21 days and see what happens. :)

- ROADBLOCK: Comparison!!! Too often we are zapped of motivation or joy in the journey because we begin to compare our progress or journey with that of others.

-ACTION: STOP comparing! If you are moving forward and honoring the Lord as you do, then it should not matter what others are doing. Comparison can rob us of so much joy. It creates blinders that inhibit us from seeing the true progress we have made.

I would love for you to post your goals at the bottom of this and check back in next month to let me know how you have done! You can also email me at lollie.barksdale22@gmail.com. I would love to encourage you and pray for you as you start, continue and accomplish your goals!

About the Author: Lauren Barksdale is the founder of Soul Fitness. She has a BA and Masters in Kinesiology from Dallas Baptist University . She coached volleyball at Birdville High School in North Richland Hills for the last 5 years. In college she played volleyball for Baylor's club team and at Dallas Baptist University. She has been married to Ben Barksdale for 5 years and has two children; Evie Grace who is 3 and Hudson who is 10 months old. Lauren has a passion for health and fitness and incorporating that into everyday life as a Christ follower