This morning as I laid my agenda for the day upon the table, I thought about how grateful I am for so many things. Family, friends, faith and God are great places to begin. Tonight I will pick up my daughter and her children to begin a Christmas week. Looking at the city’s lights, visiting a fun destination and seeing family are all part of my plans.

Making plans. Too often in the community of believers we look at plans and think it is not spiritual to have plans. What? Really? We make a big deal about vision though. What is vision but a set of “plans” that are laid about before us by the Lord. As men and women were sent throughout the course of scripture, their destinations were planned and took some time. Things had purpose.

There are but three thoughts regarding the plans of God or even making a plan.

A-”I will make no plans”. I see this all the time in the kingdom. People are unwilling to set sail towards a destination because they do not want to appear unspiritual. And so they float…a lot. And usually have no progress. While a rolling stone gathers no moss it very rarely goes anywhere cool!

OR they do not want to miss out! Because what if “God shows up where I am not”. First-what happened to God is always with us? Can He not revive the dead anywhere? Second-it is security issue. The idea that you might miss out on a better place to be is immature in its thinking. It hurts you and hurts others. “Let’s wait to see which offer is better for us.”

B-”I project the answers.” There is a huge difference between prophecy and projection, just as there is between planning and projecting. Yesterday I planned for a “great” day. What I got was not so great. I had to work hard to see the blessings of the day. (They were there. Some days you just need to work harder to find them…)It is one thing to plan. (Allowing for flexibility and change.) And quite another to project. (This is how it will work and what will happen.)Planning leads to growth. Projection leads to disappointment.

I am planning to see my kids and my grandchildren this week. BUT, if I don’t I do not stop my forward progress. It just means I may need to make a change or an accommodation. It is NOT unspiritual to be flexible. It is also not mature to not do something because “what if” it fails. Well..what if it doesn’t!

Projecting outcomes is dangerous especially when it involves others. It is that place that can lead to manipulation as well as disappointing outcomes. (A lot of prayers are projection. So be wise, be careful and think. Words have power. That power often affects the person praying more than anyone else when care is not given.)

C- “Plans lead to preparation.” Preparation is part of process and procedure. Both are important to the growth of an individual.

I have planned my week. It allows for me to be flexible, accommodate “surprises” and reduce stress in my own life.

God had a plan since before the beginning of time. If we are to emulate or follow God we will need to see planning as important.God said in Jeremiah 29:11 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.

If God has a plan and He is ALL spiritual, it seems like the rest of us ought to give consideration to it.

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”― Benjamin Franklin

Begin to see your life with purpose.

“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.”― Yogi Berra

Embrace your purpose and your calling and determine the plan.