Has God recently placed something new on your heart? Perhaps you’re feeling burdened to launch a new ministry or begin a new goal?

There’s nothing that fuels my energy like dreaming for the future and planning action steps for a God-given vision! But before I begin something new, I always try to take a careful look at what foundation I am planning to build on.

Before you start the project, goal, ministry, or relationship God has placed on your heart, I suggest five foundations to have in place:

1. Begin with a Heart of Integrity

Without personal integrity at the heart level, there can be no lasting success. Before beginning, ask God to examine your heart and purify your motives. When the heart is pure, the vision is clear.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.—Matthew 5:8

2. Begin with a Life Free from Bitterness

Bitterness is a terrible course-setter because it twists your reasoning so your direction becomes reactionary rather than causative. A life void of bitterness is free—able to hear God’s voice, follow in whole-hearted faith, and lead others in a causative direction.

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.—Colossians 3:13

3. Begin with a Consistent Devotional Walk with God

The foundation of any relationship is time. And if there is one relationship you need securely planted as you begin a new endeavor, it is your relationship with God.

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee…—Psalm 63:1

4. Begin with a Commitment to a Local, Visible, Biblical Baptist Church

This foundation is vital on two levels—personally and relating to what you will begin. Personally, it is important that you are firmly planted in a doctrinally sound, biblically based local church—that attending, growing, and serving in this church is a core part of your life commitments. In beginning a new relationship, ministry, or goal, it is important that every aspect of your plan compliment and complete God’s plan to work through the local church.

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.—Hebrews 10:25

5. Begin with a Resolved Life

There’s nothing that will weigh you down in the future like unresolved issues or misunderstandings from the past. To the best of your ability, resolve any outstanding conflicts. If you have personal turmoil or conflict in your own life, seek God’s help and perhaps counsel from a spiritually mature Christian.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.—Philippians 3:13–14

Has God placed a fresh beginning on your heart? Be sure you have these five foundations in place. And then…start! May God richly bless your faith!