“But the noble make noble plans, and by noble deeds they stand.” Isaiah 32:8
As much as we can, we should plan. Life can come at you from many angles; so as much as it resides with us, we should plan our future; set a course, and be ready when God changes it. Benjamin Franklin once said, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!” Let us not fail with our lives, let us plan! When planning our lives, we should first sift our decisions through the Bible. If the scriptures are not clear, then we turn to spiritual advisors, and through it all, we pray for God to make it clear. Sometimes the clearest path is not the easiest! God’s way, is most often the most challenging way (Romans 12:1-2)! Every plan must start with a goal!
“He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!” Luke 13:32-33
Jesus had a goal to get to Jerusalem to die on a cross. The hardship did not start on the journey but before; it was in the decision to complete the task before he took his first step! Without goals, we wander around aimlessly. However, a goal by itself is like having the cure to cancer but leaving it on the shelf. Goals must be pursued with a resolution to see them brought to fruition (Luke 9:51). How committed are we to the goals we set? Do we stay focused throughout the year, month, week, or even day; Or are we getting distracted with Netflix, Facebook, Twitter, and Amazon! Jesus did not just have a goal for the end of his life, to die fulfilling the purpose of God, but he had a daily goal, a schedule!
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:35
Jesus had a schedule for when he would spend time with God, first thing in the morning. “Jesus doesn’t lead you out of your day; He leads you into it.” TS. As one woman once said, “Be sure that you never try to work God into your schedule, but always work your schedule around Him.” JM. The most important meeting we have every day is our appointment with God. After our time with God, we then follow our priority list. Too often, people can feel too busy to do the things God is asking of them: Make disciples (Mark 1:17, Matthew 28:18-20). Take care of their spouse (Ephesians 5:21-33). Raise their children in The Way (Proverbs 22:6, Acts 24:14). Attend all the meetings of the body (Matthew 6:33, Hebrews 10:23-25). Complete their schooling (Colossians 3:23). Provide finances for the family (1 Timothy 5:8). “When someone tells you they are too ‘busy’… It’s not a reflection of their schedule; it’s a reflection of YOUR spot on their schedule.” SM. Let us get our priorities in the right order!
I remember when at 21 years old I was a newlywed, on my second mission team leading the Inland Empire Region in Riverside, California. At this time Mandee was pregnant and very sick. We shared one car, so Mandee would drive to work as an assistant to a paper company, and I would walk three miles one way to school (one-hour prayer walk). Although working a part-time job for Princeton Review we did not have enough money for school books, so all my homework needed to be completed at the library or study center. To reach out to opinion leaders, I joined the track team and every day had practice. Preaching on Sunday, Wednesdays, occasional Fridays, and leading a Bible talk on Thursdays and one by myself on campus on Wednesdays. This was the first time I got Shingles. Although God was trying to teach me how to raise up leaders and not do the work of 12 men, but raising up 12 men to do the work. He did, however, teach me how to schedule my life to every 15 mins! It was at this time that God blessed us with a growth rate of 200%, and for the first time, I received straight A’s!
God has taught me to have a set time for Him (Matthew 6:33). A set time for work/school and homework (suggest doing homework right after class while information is fresh, so you do not waste time trying to remember things). To work in four-hour blocks early in the morning (suggested 5am-9am on Friday). To work with focus and determination, a resolve to reach your goals! Put your phone away, turn off your social media, just let people know before you do this, NO GHOSTING! To not procrastinate because of the lie from Satan, “you have more time!” Our problem is not a time issue, but a heart issue in prioritizing our lives! Let us not get distracted with hours of searching Facebook, or one episode turning into two, while we are trying to “unwind.” Let us stay disciplined with our time and get things done!
“Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house [unwind].” Proverbs 24:27
If we do not have our “to do list” done, we do not have the right to “unwind.” When Jesus wanted to rest with His guys after doing miracles all night, he found God added to his work load a whole group of people needed teaching and healing; this He did then prayed all night long (Mark 6:30-56)!
What are our priorities? God is giving us more than we can handle but He always provides a way out. Sometimes its learning how to raise up leaders, how to better schedule our lives, or forcing us to look at the priorities we set in our hearts. But in all things, let us plan! Let us have a schedule and make noble plans, and then we can truly stand up under it all (1 Corinthians 10:13)!
To God be all the glory!
Love,
Coltin L Rohn