Fancy-Pants Planning
What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to we will live and do this or that.” James 4:15 (NLT)
I’m a planner. A planner extraordinaire actually. I mean some might call me a control freak, but I prefer executive planner.
My life runs on spreadsheets, calendars (make that one BIG calendar), and list after list. Some view it as pathetic (who wants a spreadsheet to go by on vacation?), and others (my fellow control freaks) see it as pure genius.
Yes, I have a plan for everything. But, if I’m honest – it’s exhausting.
I’m planning my life – almost living my life out – before it even happens, down to the nittty-gritty details in most cases. And don’t even get me started on where I land when life doesn’t go by the plan. Let’s just say it ain’t pretty.
When it comes down to it, my planning is based on my own goals, expectations, and assumptions, and not on God’s plan.
I’m so obsessed with my plans, and truthfully, it’s not because of God, but because of pride.
Here’s what I’m doing.
Where I’m doing it.
How I’m doing it.
And – here’s the outcome I’m striving to achieve.
My elaborate plans are created to fit in my fancy-pants world.
James warns us of this in his own “drop the mic” kind of way (this book is seriously one of my favs!).
Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and we will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 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. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting in evil.” James 4:13-16 (NLT)
So, as I’m wrapping up 2016 and – you guessed it – making a list of my goals and plans for 2017, I’m focused on more praying and less planning.
It’s time to trust God with our plans. It’s time to surrender the new year to what He has for us. It’s time to live out His plan, and not an elaborate plan for our fancy-pants world.
READ: Jeremiah 29: 10-14
PRAY: Ask God to reveal his plans for you in this new year. Pray for opportunities to share Jesus with the people in the places God has put you.
GROW: Seek God’s plan for you through his Word. Renew your commitment to faithfully getting in God’s Word this year.
