I got plans...

We all have 'em. You know... dreams, aspirations, hopes, goals... plans, baby! And, we need to have plans. Imagine a home built without a set of plans. The owner hires excellent tradesmen to do the work. But the plumber didn't really know where the bathrooms were going, and the electrician didn't know what that room was for, and so on... That would be one messed up house. (I am licensed Realtor, and I think I have seen this home...) The point: Plans=good. No Plans=bad. Most successful people, from a worldly perspective, got there on purpose. Few people succeed without a lot of planning and due diligence.


James 4:13-14 Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.


Okay... so Plans=bad. No Plans=good??? I wasn't planning on being confused...


Verse 15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”


Hmm... Plans, subject to=Good! I think we are on to something here.


"If the Lord wants us to..." Does that sound familiar? I believe it was Jesus who said, "Not my will but Yours, Father."

As it is with many issues, the discussion really isn't an either-or proposition. I am not trying to persuade you to see things my way, so I am not trying to corner you with a debate technique. What I am hoping to help you to see is that there is a way to freedom in Christ that includes, of course, submission to His will, but also the responsibility to make plans, set goals, etc... It is BOTH. It is to set goals, projections, plans, subject to the will of God.

For many years, I had to pray this prayer, "Lord, I want to want to be totally Yours every day. Help me to really want to completely Yours." It is a little like the prayer of the father of the epileptic in Mark 9:24, "Lord, I believe! Help me in my unbelief!" It has been a struggle since the beginning of belief. The balancing act of believing that God has our best interests at heart so surrendering to His plans, His will, and being willing to walk away from our own plans at a moments notice... it is tough. But it is the true walk of every follower of Jesus.

What would that look like? A lot like Jesus. "Father, here is what I want, but I want what You want more. If this cup could pass, that would be preferred... but if not, I am all in." In my life, that looks like this: "God, I would like to sell 70 homes this year, have two days off a week, teach two classes a month, lead a life group each week, lead worship a few times a month, improve my guitar skills, be a great dad and husband, be healthy, wealthy and wise... but, if not, I am all in." And then the tough part, "I really mean it, Father... I am all in. I want more than all of my wants to be in Your will."

If you think about the word, "Follower", it really says it all. I am a follower of Jesus. Where He goes, I go. Where He leads, I go. What He says I say. But a follower is not the Leader. Each follower is a separate person, and so you bring a bit of self to the equation. Therefore, our paths will look different, but always carved out in obedience. Since we are following the Unseen God, the Omnipotent, Omnipresent God, He can lead each of us in a very specific path (without getting confused, I might add.) His will for us is good - good from His perfect perspective. I'll concede that it may not look good from our own personal perspective at times. That's where faith is essential. Bringing us to the bottom line: Scriptures says it is impossible to please God without faith. We HAVE to believe in God to follow Him. To follow Him well, we have to believe that He loves us and that His plan is far better than our own. That means we have to know Him and trust Him.

So, I have to choose to follow. I have to make plans to follow Him. I have to shape my day around making sure I keep Him in view, so I can follow. In real life, that doesn't mean I stay home and wait. It means I get up, get dressed, go to work, be the best Realtor I can be so I can bless others, and watch and listen for the Spirit of God to lead me, nudge me, speak to me. (Christians should be the very best employees.. but that is a whole other topic...) Following Jesus is a full contact sport. In this world we live in, being the best follower we can be includes a calendar or Day-Planner. We have to make plans to be able to be effective in our jobs and our ministries. We have to have budgets, spreadsheets, and goals. But, always with the phrase added, "Not my will but Your will, Lord."

How is your following going? Do you know Him? I mean really know Him? Are you seeking to know Him better? Are you crying out today, "Lord, I believe... Help me in my unbelief!" And then, trust Him with Your Day Planner. His plans are better than Yours, and He is good.