Born in Lemerje, Godina's family was of minor nobility. He went to school in Surd in Somogy County, where he lived and worked with two Slovene writers: István Küzmics and Mihály Bakos. Godina graduated from the Lutheran Lyceum of Sopron and returned to his home region Tótság (Prekmurje) as a consecrated priest.
Between 1793 and 1799, Godina worked as a teacher, and after the death of the priest István Szmodis Godina became the pastor in 1821. From 1821 until his death, Godina was a priest and a teacher in Gornji Petrovci.
Godina wrote church hymns, sermons, and school curricula in the Prekmurje dialect.
