Kingdom-Aligned Goal Setting for 2026: A Biblical Framework for Christian Creatives

When God created humanity on the sixth day, He didn’t just make us and leave us to figure things out. He blessed us, gave us purpose, and entrusted us with stewardship over His creation.

“God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’” -Genesis 1:28

This wasn’t a command to dominate or exploit. It was an invitation into sacred partnership—to tend, nurture, and multiply the good work He had begun.

As we stand at the threshold of a new year, many of us feel the cultural pressure to set ambitious goals, crush our targets, and hustle our way to success. But what if our calling as Christian creatives is something entirely different? What if goal-setting isn’t about proving our worth or building our empire, but about faithful stewardship of the gifts God has already given us?

Welcome to The Stewardship Sanctuary, where we learn to manage our creative gifts with wisdom and responsibility. Today, we’re developing a Sacred Goal-Setting Framework—one that honors both your calling and your design, that seeks kingdom alignment over worldly ambition, and that makes space for God’s voice in the planning process.

The Problem with Worldly Goal-Setting

Before we dive into a biblical framework, we need to acknowledge what’s broken in the mainstream approach to goal-setting.

The world tells us to dream bigger, work harder, and push further. We’re supposed to set goals that stretch us to our breaking point, measure success by numbers, followers, and revenue, compare our progress to others in our field, and never be satisfied with where we are. This relentless pursuit of more has become the standard playbook for “success.”

This hustle culture has infiltrated Christian spaces, too, dressed up in spiritual language. We’re told to “work as unto the Lord” while being driven by the same metrics of success that the world uses. We set goals because we see others setting them, not because God has called us to them.

But Proverbs 16:9 reminds us: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.”

We can make all the plans we want, but without God’s direction, we’re building on sand. Jesus Himself warned about this kind of ambition without discernment: “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” -Luke 14:28

Kingdom-aligned goals look different. They emerge from prayer and discernment, not comparison. They honor your unique design and current season. They measure success by faithfulness, not just outcomes. They create space for rest and sustainable rhythms. And they point others to Christ, not to your personal brand.

The outcomes of kingdom-aligned goals often look radically different from worldly success. You might have a smaller platform but a deeper impact. You might publish less content, but create work that actually changes lives. You might earn less money but experience greater peace and joy in your work.

The Sacred Goal-Setting Framework

Drawing from Genesis Day 6’s themes of stewardship and blessed work, here’s a framework for setting goals that honor both God and your unique design.

Step 1: Begin with Prayer and Posture

Before you set a single goal, you need to get your heart right before God.

James 4:13-15 says, “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow... Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’”

This means setting aside time for prayer specifically about your creative work in 2026. Ask God to reveal what He’s calling you to, not what you think you “should” do. Listen for His voice in Scripture, through wise counsel, and in the quiet moments. Surrender your own ambitions and ask for kingdom vision instead.

I’ll be honest—I’m still working through what this looks like for my own goal-setting system. I’m developing something that incorporates my soft, sacred, slow philosophy without promoting hustle culture. It’s a process, and that’s okay. We don’t need to have perfect systems; we need to have surrendered hearts.

Step 2: Assess Your Stewardship

On Day 6, God looked at everything He had made and saw what was already there before giving Adam and Eve their assignment. You need to do the same.

Ask yourself what gifts God has already given you. What platforms or spaces are you already stewarding? What season of life are you in right now? What resources—time, energy, capacity—do you actually have? What have you learned from this past year? This honest assessment is crucial before you start adding new goals to an already full plate.

This is where depth-over-breadth becomes crucial. In our social media-saturated world, we’re told we need to be everywhere—Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, a blog, a podcast, email, and on and on. But Proverbs 21:5 reminds us, “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”

My Platform Choice: A Case Study in Depth Over Breadth

I’ve chosen to go all-in on Substack as my primary platform. Not because it’s the “best” platform for everyone, but because I believe in choosing one platform, learning it deeply, and building something sustainable there rather than spreading myself thin across every social media channel.

Here’s why this matters: Substack allows me to publish long-form articles like this one for depth of teaching. I can share quick thoughts and community building through Notes. I create podcast episodes for those who prefer audio. I can host livestreams and videos for visual connection. I’m building an email list that I own, not one rented from social platforms. And I can monetize in ways that align with my values. All of this in ONE ecosystem.

I’m not saying Substack is THE platform every Christian creative should use—but I am saying that choosing ONE platform and going deep is more aligned with sustainable, faithful stewardship than trying to maintain a presence everywhere.

This framework I’m sharing can be applied to any platform you choose. The key is choosing with intention, not just doing what everyone else is doing.

Step 3: Discern Kingdom Alignment

This is where we separate worldly ambition from kingdom calling.

Kingdom-aligned goals serve others more than they serve your brand. They create eternal value, not just temporal success. They honor your season and capacity. They flow from your God-given design. They make space for rest and relationship. And they point people to Jesus, not just to you.

Worldly goals, on the other hand, focus primarily on metrics like followers, revenue, and engagement. They prioritize growth at any cost. They ignore your limits and push through exhaustion. They copy what’s working for others without discernment. They sacrifice family, health, or spiritual life for “success.” And they build your platform as an end in itself.

Here are the questions I ask myself when discerning whether a goal is kingdom-aligned: Am I setting this goal because God is calling me to it, or because I see others doing it? Does this goal honor my current season of life, or does it require me to neglect other callings like family, rest, or spiritual health? Will pursuing this goal require me to compromise my values or push past healthy boundaries? Does this goal serve others, or does it primarily serve my ego or insecurity? Can I pursue this goal with joy and peace, or only through stress and striving?

Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” If God isn’t in your goal-setting, all your planning is just noise.

Step 4: Align with Your Design (DISC-Based Approaches)

God created you with a specific personality, temperament, and way of approaching work. Your goal-setting should honor your design, not fight against it.

I’ve written extensively about how Christian DISC helps us understand our God-given personalities in my Sacred Design series. If you’re not familiar with your DISC type, I highly recommend taking the assessment and reading through those posts to understand your unique wiring.

Here’s how each personality type can approach goal-setting in ways that honor their design:

The D-Type Cultivator: Direct & Decisive Goal-Setting

If you’re a D-type, you naturally think big and set ambitious targets. You’re comfortable with challenge and competition. You move quickly from decision to action, and you’re results-oriented and driven. This is your God-given design, and there’s nothing wrong with it.

Your goal-setting strategy should leverage these strengths: Set clear, measurable outcomes with specific deadlines. Break down big goals into conquerable milestones. Create accountability systems that challenge you. Focus on impact and results, not just activity. Build in regular progress reviews to course-correct quickly.

But here’s your caution: Don’t mistake ambition for calling. Bring every big goal to God first. Make sure your goals serve others, not just your need to win. Build in rest and relationship goals, not just achievement goals. Be careful not to bulldoze over the needs of your season or family. Your drive is a gift, but it can also become an idol if you’re not careful.

Example D-Type goals might look like: “Launch my Substack with 100 subscribers by March 31,” or “Publish 2 articles per week for 12 consecutive weeks,” or “Reach $1,000/month in subscription revenue by December,” or “Complete and publish my first ebook by June 1.”

The I-Type Cultivator: Inspirational & Relational Goal-Setting

If you’re an I-type, you’re energized by connection and community. You naturally inspire and encourage others. You’re adaptable and creative in your approach, and you thrive on collaboration and feedback. These relational gifts are exactly what the kingdom needs.

Your goal-setting strategy should honor this design: Frame goals around relationship and impact on people. Build in community accountability and celebration. Allow flexibility in how you reach your goals. Focus on engagement and connection metrics alongside other measures. Create goals that involve collaboration or partnerships.

But here’s your caution: Don’t let fear of disappointing others lead you to over-commit. Make sure your goals come from God’s calling, not people-pleasing. Build structure to support your natural spontaneity. Include completion-focused goals, not just starting new things. Your enthusiasm is contagious, but it needs boundaries.

Example I-Type goals might look like: “Build a community of 50 engaged readers who regularly comment and share,” or “Host monthly livestreams where I connect with my audience in real-time,” or “Collaborate with 3 other Christian creatives on guest posts or joint projects,” or “Share my story vulnerably through 12 personal essays this year.”

The S-Type Cultivator: Steady & Supportive Goal-Setting

If you’re an S-type, you create consistent, sustainable rhythms. You’re loyal to commitments and follow through reliably. You naturally create peaceful, welcoming spaces, and you’re patient with long-term growth. This steadiness is a profound gift in a culture obsessed with viral moments.

Your goal-setting strategy should build on this foundation: Set realistic, achievable goals that you can maintain long-term. Create routines and rhythms rather than sporadic pushes. Focus on serving your existing community well before expanding. Build in margin and rest as non-negotiable parts of your plan. Measure success by consistency and faithfulness, not explosive growth.

But here’s your caution: Don’t let your desire for peace keep you from necessary growth steps. Make sure you’re not avoiding goals out of fear of change. Give yourself permission to dream bigger than feels “safe.” Remember that seasons change—what worked last year might need adjusting. Your stability is strength, but it shouldn’t become stagnation.

Example S-Type goals might look like: “Publish one deep-dive article every Wednesday for the entire year,” or “Maintain my Sunday devotional newsletter without missing a week,” or “Respond thoughtfully to every comment on my posts within 48 hours,” or “Create a sustainable content rhythm that doesn’t require hustle.”

The C-Type Cultivator: Conscientious & Excellence-Focused Goal-Setting

If you’re a C-type, you naturally plan thoroughly and think strategically. You create high-quality work with attention to detail. You’re analytical and research-driven in your approach, and you value accuracy and credibility. This pursuit of excellence honors God when it’s surrendered to Him.

Your goal-setting strategy should use these strengths: Create detailed plans with clear systems and processes. Set quality-focused goals, not just quantity goals. Build in research and learning goals to deepen expertise. Track data to measure progress and refine your approach. Focus on creating resources that serve long term.

But here’s your caution: Don’t let perfectionism paralyze you from starting. Make sure your standards are God’s standards, not impossible ideals. Build in “done is better than perfect” goals to practice releasing work. Remember that connection sometimes matters more than perfection. Your excellence serves others best when it’s actually shared, not endlessly refined.

Example C-Type goals might look like: “Research and write a comprehensive 10-part series on [specific topic],” or “Create a library of 5 evergreen resource guides that serve my audience long-term,” or “Develop a documented content system that ensures consistency and quality,” or “Study 3 top creators in my niche to understand best practices and improve my craft.”

Step 5: Create Your 2026 Stewardship Plan

Now it’s time to bring it all together. This is where prayer meets planning, where spiritual discernment meets practical action.

Start by choosing your primary platform. Based on your stewardship assessment, pick ONE platform to go deep on. For me, it’s Substack. For you, it might be something else—but choose with intention and commit to depth over breadth. This single decision will eliminate so much scattered energy and allow you to truly master your chosen space.

Next, identify 3-5 major goals for the year. Notice I said 3-5, not 15-20. These should be the big-picture outcomes you’re working toward in 2026—the things that would make this year feel faithful and fruitful. Make sure each one aligns with kingdom purposes, honors your DISC type, fits your current season, and serves others while stewarding your gifts. If a goal doesn’t pass all four of these tests, it probably doesn’t belong on your list.

Then comes the beautiful part: connecting your goals to the Garden Spaces from the Genesis Framework. Map each goal to one of the seven spaces. Your Light Garden holds vision and calling goals—the “why” behind your work. The Waters Retreat is for spiritual formation and boundary goals—protecting your inner life. Fruitful Fields contains your content creation and productivity goals—the actual work you’ll produce. Luminaries Lookout is for visibility and platform-building goals—how you’ll share what you create. Living Waters holds community and connection goals—the relationships you’re cultivating. Stewardship Sanctuary is for business and sustainability goals—the practical side of your work. And Sabbath Grove contains your rest and renewal goals—because rest is not optional in kingdom work.

This mapping exercise does something powerful: it helps ensure you’re not just setting goals in one area of life while neglecting others. You might discover you have six goals in Fruitful Fields and nothing in Sabbath Grove—a clear sign that your planning needs rebalancing.

Once your goals are clear, break them down into quarterly milestones. What needs to happen in Q1 to set the foundation? What builds on that in Q2? What deepens in Q3? What completes or culminates in Q4? This quarterly rhythm prevents overwhelm and allows for course-correction. You’re not committing to a rigid 12-month plan; you’re creating a flexible roadmap that can adapt as you go.

Finally—and this is crucial—build in regular review rhythms. Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” This isn’t a one-time commitment made in January and forgotten by March. It’s an ongoing conversation with God about your work.

Plan to check in weekly, asking yourself: Am I on track this week? What needs to shift?

Then do a monthly review: How did last month go? What do I need to adjust?

And quarterly, ask the bigger question: Are these goals still aligned with where God is leading me? This rhythm of review keeps you flexible, faithful, and focused on what actually matters.

Step 6: Hold Plans Loosely

Here’s the tension we must hold: We plan diligently AND we surrender completely.

Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”

Your 2026 goals are not set in stone. They’re your best understanding of God’s calling right now, but He may redirect you mid-year. A new opportunity may arise. Your season may shift dramatically. Your capacity may change.

Kingdom-aligned goal-setting requires making plans with wisdom and intention, holding those plans with open hands, being willing to pivot when God redirects, and measuring success by faithfulness, not just outcomes.

The goal isn’t to perfectly predict and control your 2026. The goal is to faithfully steward what God has given you today, trusting Him with tomorrow.

What Kingdom Success Actually Looks Like

Let me paint two pictures for you:

Picture 1: Worldly Success: By the end of 2026, you’ve grown your audience by 5,000 followers. You’re getting opportunities to speak and guest post. Your income has tripled. People recognize your name in your niche. Your content is shared widely.

But your prayer life is shallow. Your family relationships are strained. You’re exhausted and running on fumes. Your joy is dependent on metrics. You can’t remember the last time you truly rested.

Picture 2: Kingdom Success: By the end of 2026, you’ve grown slowly and steadily. Your audience is smaller than you hoped, but deeply engaged. You’ve received messages from readers whose lives were changed by your work. Your income is modest but sustainable. Few people know your name, but those who do trust you deeply.

Your relationship with God is deeper than it’s ever been. Your family feels loved and prioritized. You have energy and joy in your work. You rest regularly without guilt. You know you’re exactly where God called you to be.

Which would you choose?

Kingdom-aligned goals lead to Picture 2. They might also lead to growth, opportunity, and income—but those things come as by-products of faithfulness, not as the main pursuit.

Moving Forward: Your Next Steps

As you begin planning your 2026 creative goals, remember these foundational truths:

Start with prayer, not planning. Get your heart right with God before you set a single goal. Assess your actual stewardship—what has God already given you, and what season are you in?

Choose depth over breadth by picking your platform and going all in rather than spreading yourself thin.

Honor your design by setting goals that work with your DISC type, not against it.

Measure by faithfulness, not just outcomes, because success is stewarding well what God has given, not achieving what culture applauds.

And hold your plans loosely, making wise plans while surrendering them completely to God’s purposes.

This isn’t about having a perfect system. I’m still figuring out my own approach, and that’s okay. This is about building a foundation on kingdom principles rather than worldly metrics.

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Join Me in the Journey

I’m learning to set kingdom-aligned goals right alongside you. If you want to see behind the scenes of how I’m implementing this framework in my own creative business, I’d love to have you join the Cultivator’s Circle, my paid subscriber community.

As a member of the Cultivator’s Circle, you’ll get quarterly goal updates where you can see how I’m setting and pursuing my goals using this framework.

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This is more than just a subscription—it’s joining a community of Christian creatives who are learning to build sustainably, faithfully, and joyfully.

And if you’re not ready for that commitment yet, you can still follow along with my free weekly content. Every Wednesday, I share a deep-dive teaching article like this one, and every Sunday, I send a Sabbath devotional to help you rest and reflect.

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“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” - Proverbs 16:3

Here’s to a year of faithful stewardship, kingdom alignment, and creative work that truly matters.

With you in the garden,

Antonisha

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