Podcast Transcripts

Goal setting with the Holy Spirit is like developing a strategic plan with God, so you can be a part of His plan in bringing down the enemy. Practicing the spiritual discipline of unplugging will allow you time to answer prompts about the past which lead you into planning for the future. 

Contents: spiritual disciple unplugging, prayer for goal setting, should Christians set goals, planning together, 13 prompts to spiritual goal setting , mind set change, conclusion. 

Please enjoy this podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Although efforts were made in editing, this transcript may include a few typos. It’s difficult to catch some minor errors. Enjoy! 

Introduction 

Saints, welcome to Hanging Out With Jesus Podcast, I’m Lyvita Brooks, Christian author, Bible teacher, and founder of The Me Project Academy, bringing you information on how to live a clutter-free life, so you can Go & Do what God’s called you to. This podcast gives you a wake-up call to who you are and whose you are, and how to practice spiritual disciplines to help keep you and yours sane, in a fallen world which is not your home.  

15.0 – Whoa Saints, I just got a wake-up call. The Lord is leading me to do a pivot. Hanging Out With Jesus Podcast is now, bringing you information on how to live in a corrupt world which refuses to accept the word of Christ Jesus. This podcast gives you a wake-up call to who you are and whose you are, and how to practice spiritual disciplines to help keep you and yours faithful, in a fallen world which is not your home. John 14:23 says, ““If anyone loves Me (referring to Christ), he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” 

56.0 – Saints we are living in a world that’s looking more and more like Babylon, and Sodom and Gomorrah. Our religious rights are slowly being taken from us. Our leaders are allowing the constitution, which was developed on Biblical beliefs, to be amended to the point of no return, and we, believers are not doing what we were designed to do because of fear, doubt, business, someone treated us wrong in the church, lost faith, debating over stuff that divides us instead of trying to help the unity in the body of Christ or something else.

This podcast I pray give you the tools you need to get back on the battlefield and fight the good fight of faith being lead by the Holy Spirit. Saints, we are a nation to be reckoned with but in the state we are in, nothing’s happening. I like how Erwin Lutzer, author of the book The Church In Babylon Heeding the Call to Be a Light in the Darkness puts it, “The church is waiting for the world to become regenerated, while the world is waiting for the church to become repentant.” Saints, we are the church. Don’t forget that. You are the church. 

2:29 – You can find this episode transcript, our free Christian Blueprint and much more at www.hangingoutwithjesuspodcast.com. 

2:45 – This is episode 69 and I’m sharing how I hang out with the Holy Spirit in order to plan for the New Year. 

If you enjoy this episode then check out episode 67 called “Take the Spiritual Diet Challenge for 2023” because it’s about unplugging to get yourself in a position to hear from the Lord about your life specifically and your impact on the world.

Goal setting for Christians is coming up in the interview section. You will need a pen, paper, Bible and comfy place to write. 

3:26 – ?So let’s talk about spiritual disciplines … 

In particular “Unplugging”. Ecclesiastes 2:22-23 (NIV) reads,  

“22 What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? 23 All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless.” 

So Saints, after all that work we do, and trials we go through we still don’t get rest at night. Why? Is it because we are scrolling, channel surfing, and mesmerized by whatever flickers across our TV, phones, laptops, computers, and digital devices? Wow that was an Old Testament scripture that is true for us today. 

So what is Unplugging?  

4:32 – Well, according to Adele Calhoun in her book Spiritual Disciplines Handbook Practices That Transform us, she considers Unplugging to be a form of opening yourself to God. She defines it like this, “Unplugging calls us to leave the virtual world of technology (computers, email, laptops, cellphones, Ipads, etc.) in order to become present to God and others.”  

5:07 – Unplugging is not a word you will find in the Bible, but let’s be clear it was Jesus custom to go to a desolate place to pray. That was unplugging from being bombarded by people always asking Him to heal them, teach them, etc. The key here as it is for us, is that unplugging is a discipline for making yourself fully present and uninterrupted to be in the Presence of God and/or others. 

How do you Unplug? 

5:41 – This looks different for us than during Jesus time because for one they didn’t have the type of technology we had, nor did they have something consistently flickering in their face which often times can become an obsession. 

6: 03 – Here’s how you do it: 

1. It’s similar to practicing Silence, in that you need to be in a quiet place without interruptions. 
2. Removing any form of technology, digital devices, music, etc. from out of your space. Including the dings and distracting sounds they make. Make sure others around you know that you are unplugging so they can support you. 
3. Another part to unplugging is being fully present with others where you set up time for one-on-one interactions, without technological devices or communication and their sounds. 
4. Finally, unplugging is simply giving your full attention to hanging out with Jesus &/or hanging out with others w/o the distractions of technology. 

The reason I am sharing about unplugging here, is so that you can set time to do it. Practice it. You’ll need this practice time when setting your goals with the Holy Spirit. That’s what this episode is about Goal setting with Holy Spirit, setting goals and the Holy Spirit, a guide to goal setting, planning and goal setting with Holy Spirit, which ever topic you like but it all boils down to hanging out with Holy Spirit to set a strategic plan to being successful for the new year, new session, or new quarter. 

A personal update … 

8:29 – Nuggets For Thought is coming Saints! It was because I spent time with Holy Spirit that He got me to this point. Planning with Holy Spirit is something to do daily, weekly, monthly, yearly because you need to know where you are going in a chaotic world that can easily get you off track or stuck where you don’t belong. 

Prayerfully, the first week of February the book should be in book form. I’m still awaiting the book cover folks to give me a draft. 

Thanks to everyone for supporting this ministry and to the saints that are listening for the first time, Welcome! You can find this transcript and my contact information at www.hangingoutwithjesuspodcast.com. I’d love to hear from you because then it makes this feel more like a conversation. 

Now come walk with me where we intentionally and daily hang out with Jesus. 

10:13 – Now Saints before I pray, I want you to know that this prayer will be on Prayer-A-Week when you are ready to do this goal setting exercise. It can be found at www.hangingoutwithjesuspodcast.com,  

Prayer for Goal Setting 

10:28 – Let’s pray … 

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name. You are a great an awesome God who knows our beginnings and endings. Because you designed us for such a time as this.  

First Corinthians 3: 7-9 (NIV) reads,  

7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. 

Father God, we recognize that we are your fellow workers, we are Your field and your building, that’s why we are coming to you to plan, set goals for the new season of our lives. We pray that we are open, receptive, and willingly follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit and that we hear clearly what He has to say. Remove all hindrances from our hearing, heart, and will power so that we will be doers and hearers of Your word. 

Holy Spirit give us wisdom in putting together goals that are specific and measurable, provide us with whatever is needed to accomplish God’s will according to His plan, and craft them in a way that we will be able to evaluate our progress and make improvements. We ask that our faith is strengthen when it looks like mountains can’t be moved for us to pass through.  

Holy Spirit teach us to delegate tasks to the right people and/or organization, give us insight to successfully identify the right person or people that will take the responsibility we give them with care and complete it on time. Help us to not think more highly of ourselves than we ought, but to lean on You. 

Holy Spirit teach us how to refine goals and reward ourselves and others when goals are accomplished. Let us never forget that we are models to all believers (1 Thess.1:7-8) and that what we do is to the glory of Father God.  

Holy Spirit help us to follow you as we use goal setting starters to begin the journey. It is in Jesus Christ name we pray. Amen.  

Key Topics With Time Stamps / Transcript With Time Stamps 

13:35 – Saints, before we begin, I’d like to clear up something.  

“Should Christians set goals?” 

YES!  

• God gave Noah plans on how to build the ark. Noah had to set goals, make plans as to what was first, second, needed to be done before a major piece could be put up. 
• Joseph planned for those seven years of famine which saved Egypt and his family. 
• Nehemiah provided security for the Israelites by rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. 
• Paul planting churches. 

14:31 – Even God plans. Check out the Book of Genesis how He brought everything into existence. He didn’t make man first, no He put everything together, then put man in it.  

God has plans for us to. Jeremiah 29: 11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” It’s God who is leading His people and setting goals of His choosing. Look at the Israelites for 40 days. God had a plan for them, yes they blew it, but so do we, but when they got back on track, God’s plan was carried out by Joshua.  

What is a spiritual goal? 

15:30 – Let’s be clear we are not talking about goals you set like the world. Remember you are in the world but not of it. Our goals are set with the Holy Spirit in order for Him to guide your growth in holiness and righteousness, developing a deeper relationship with Christ while sharing the Gospel and advancing the kingdom of God. 

How should you set goals? 

15:54 – Proverbs 16:9 reads, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Therefore, as we set goals and make plans for this new year, new season or new quarter, we need to invite the Holy Spirit to the table and humbly surrender our agendas, ambitions as we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. We are to set goals in accordance with the Holy Spirit and under His leading and guidance, remembering that it’s not our will but God’s will that we want done. This way God is glorified and His kingdom is advanced. 

Let’s Plan Together 

16:40 – Saints, I have found that preparing for the New Year is critical to feeling fulfilled, seeing God’s hand in my life, realizing that it’s really not about me but it’s about Christ and all those who have paved the path before me so that I can pave it for those that will come after me. We each are on a journey that paves the road for others to come along side us, follow us, and even go pass us because we made a step and they saw beyond it. Saints, we are the body of Christ. We need each other to advance the kingdom of God. We are a nation of people who work together because we follow Christ using the gifts and talents God’s placed in us. 

17:42 – Saints, plan this year with the Lord and I don’t mean like you have done before. I mean differently, with your whole heart, inviting Holy Spirit into uninterrupted time revisiting the past year and planning for the New Year, new season or new quarter.  

18:02 – Now let’s get started! 

You may want to purchase a 2023 journal. Where you record your answer to these prompts. They will help lead you into a conversation with the Lord about your goals for 2023 and how to proceed. They are the starting point from which the Holy Spirit will take you beyond your imagination. If you let Him. 

Click above or here to receive a copy of the prompts sent directly to you!

13 Prompts to Spiritual Goal Setting with Holy Spirit

18:50 – First, get a journal and set a day and time. You can do this now or schedule it for later. Give yourself a couple of hours. I usually can do it with in four hours but some years it took me a couple of days. Allow the Lord to lead you. First just schedule it for two to four hours and let the Holy Spirit take you from there. 

19:54 – Second, here are the prompts I’d like for you to write down. But answer one per page because Holy Spirit or even you may have a lot to share. These prompts are not just for personal but can be used for business also. To start give each about twenty minutes for writing and pondering but take more or less time as needed: 

• 20:24 – Begin writing down all the things you are grateful for in the last year. Everything that comes to mind and tell why. 
• 20:50 – Review last year by writing what did you accomplish and not accomplish and tell why. 
• Review last year by writing what didn’t work and what did work that you implemented or tried doing and tell why. Don’t get hung up here. Just write it down and go to the next one. For example, I could get hung up writing down all the things I did and didn’t do, talking about my feelings and how it impacted my days, my attitude, etc. and never get to the part where I enjoyed revisiting my mother’s words of wisdom and those precious moments where I shared them with family and how we applied her teachings to our lives. So think about things like that when asking yourself what worked or not and what did you accomplish or not because it’s those things that you learn from, especially what to or not to do in the future. 
• 22:02 – Where did you spend the majority of your time, what were you doing and why and did you enjoy doing it or did you wish you were doing something else?  
• 22:17 – How much time did you spend in personal prayer and corporate prayer? When you are praying personally or corporately, did you feel that God was answering your prayers or where your expectations so low until you could almost fulfill the answer yourself? 
• 22:44 – Do you enjoy studying God’s word why or why not and how much time do you spend doing it or do you choose to only read it and why? 
• 23:07 – How often do you spend time just sitting quietly in God’s presence and do you enjoy your time with Him? Why?  
• 23:20 – Did you share God’s word with anyone and why or why not? How are you supporting other believers? What legacy are you leaving behind? 
• 23:33 – What felt hard to do last year and why?  
• 23:45 – What did you find to be fun, enjoyable and why? Who did you enjoy being around or working with and why? And who did you not enjoy working with or business you didn’t enjoy working with and why? 
• 24:09 – Now from answering all those prompts, ask yourself, what do I want to do this New Year, new season or new quarter? Last year gave you the foundation from where to start in planning for this year. You can even include goals from last year. This is your time to get it all out and down with the Holy Spirit guidance. 

24:57 – Saints, it’s the writing down that helps you see the past in order to move towards the future, especially when you have invited Holy Spirit to guide you. 
 

Mindset Change 

25:18 – Take time to do this, Saints. Think of it as renewing your mind to get on the same page as God. Stop walking around setting goals that the world tells you that you have to accomplish to be successful, or having all these things God wants you to do but you didn’t do because life happens, or you just didn’t want to do what God said do.  

Stop it! 

Times change, constantly. We have wars and a whole lot of other mess coming down the pike, either you are a follower of Christ or not. Your choice. But if you want a life in Christ that is fulfilling, Saints, schedule time with the Holy Spirit to answer those prompts because your life does depend on it, as well as others. God always makes a way when you do what He’s called, designed you to do, even if that means beginning with having a daily quiet time, reading His word nightly, or feeding the homeless.  

26:28 – The next step, number 12, is to identify 5 categories that you will set one or two goals to complete for this year. Please don’t try to bunch goals together because all that does is cause confusion and lack of commitment. This is where you need to lean on the Holy Spirit. 

 27:05 – For example, here are two of my goals for next year: 

*Personal - cooking a meal two days a week  

*Podcast - increasing email subscribers by guest podcastings. 

I have a tendency to skip meals, which I worked on last year, but didn’t make it a goal. It’s just something I’ve been doing for a long time, but this time the Holy Spirit bought it to my attention. Then the guest podcastings is so that I can increase my reach to let others know this podcast exist and what I do. Each of these goals help me to spend more time with the Lord, because I’ll need to talk to the Lord about what to cook and if it’s right, as well as, help with speaking on other people’s podcast when I’m not sure what they are going to ask me. God’s got me going on podcast that aren’t Christian-base, as well. So I have to keep my Bible studies up and my quiet time with the Lord regular. 

 

Conclusion 

 Now that’s how I do it. You can do this section however you want. Just come up with one or two goals for each category and please 5 categories should be enough. Don’t get overwhelmed. The goals you did not pick, leave them alone. This way you can focus on one thing at a time and enjoy it. God’ll bring whatever is needed from those other goals in His time, not yours. 

 28:13 – Also Saints, don’t forget to continue doing those things that worked. For example, I’m going to continue walking 5 days a week because it worked with keeping my weight down, well my family will say a little too much, but I was healthy. Writing 4 times a week helped me finish my mother’s book and other writings. So these things I’ll continue doing. If it’s working don’t stop it, continue it or tweak it to cause even more production like for me eating cooked food will help me eat more healthy and give me more strength during my walking times. Hey, I might even try running … nay that might be too much. 

29:05 – Lastly, number 13, what boundaries do you need to set up to accomplish your goals for the year? You will need to listen closely to the Holy Spirit here because Saints, satan is always trying to derail us from doing what God’s calling us to do. Therefore, be clear on your boundaries. For example, mine is set time for social media and watching movies. This way I can get my work done. Also I have set time to read books, which is a passion I could do all day. If I didn’t set a boundary for this I’d get nothing done. 

30:11 – The main goal Saints, is to be clear about what God wants us to do this year and having a willing heart and attitude to do it. Don’t worry about the “how” of how you will do or accomplish these goals. That comes later as you spend time in God’s presence. True you may not have your budget goals set for the New Year. But right now just rest in knowing that you have clarity about what goals to accomplish. 

30:46 – Now for the Saints who are participating in the 21-Day Spiritual Diet Challenge, you could incorporate this planning into your schedule by replacing it with your evening activity. Also if you haven’t started, I’ve attached the link to find out more about the 21-Day Spiritual Diet Challenge in the comments. Also if you are doing a fast and prayer this month, then incorporate time to answer these 13 prompts. 

31:19 – That’s enough for now. Next episode, I’ll have Sandra Cooper on talking about how she gave up social media for a year. Now that’s going to be interesting.  

31:39 – So Saints go and schedule time to answer these prompts before the next episode comes out in two weeks. Let me know how things are going at www.hangingoutwithjesuspodcast.com/contact or email me at [email protected]. Links are in the show notes and comments below. 

I pray this has been a help to you and that you and the Holy Spirit will grow together as you learn more about who He is and your relationship to Him. 

If you enjoyed this episode, I’d appreciate it if you take the time to rate and write a review because it will help increase our presence on the airwaves. 

So until we meet again over the airwaves, intentionally and daily hang out with Jesus. 

Shalom!