“Good planning and insight . . bring honor and respect.” Proverbs 3:21-22 NLT
“Planning is the practical process of envisioning what you believe should happen.”
My thoughts today are, “plan ahead.”
Even the best of plans may not succeed, but if you fail to plan at all, you will certainly not succeed. Someone has correctly observed, “If you fail to plan, you have unknowingly planned to fail.”
Planning envisions what could happen. A practical and realistic plan expresses your faith in the possibilities for your future. But you and I cannot know the future; only God best knows that. What do you do? Ask Him! “If you need wisdom – if you want to know what God wants you to do – ask him, and He will gladly tell you.” James 1:5 NLT. Practical wisdom has been described as the God-given ability to see your situation from God’s point of view. What a difference that makes.
Planning begins with God. First, remember that your future is not yours alone to determine. “Submit yourselves, then, to God.” James 4:7 NIV. Know this at all times: the least of God’s plans will be better than the best of yours. “This ‘foolish’ plan of God is far wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is far stronger than the greatest of human strength.” 1 Corinthians 1:25 NLT. Place your trust in God’s purpose for your life, and take time to know what God wants for you. “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” Proverbs 16:9 NLT.
Planning clarifies direction and action. Such a process secures your focus and marshals your resources to best achieve that. Without a wise and practical plan time, effort, and resources will be wasted unnecessarily. “Why do the people waste their time with futile plans?” Psalm 2:1 NLT.
Planning directs your best efforts. Obedience and faithfulness help you realize God’s purpose; it is not a way to force your own desires to happen. “All your feverish plans are to no avail because you never ask God for help.” Isaiah 22:11 NLT.
Planning invites the help of others. There are very few things, if any, that are best accomplished on your own. “Plans succeed through good counsel; don’t go to war without the advice of others.” Proverbs 20:18 NLT.
Planning includes God’s plans. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for your good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NLT. Here is the thing of which you can be confident: “The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations . . the Lord will work out His plans for my life.” Psalm 33:11 NIV/138:8 NLT.
My prayer for you is: “May He grant your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans.” Psalm 20:4.