There’s a saying I often hear: “plan your work and work your plan.” It sounds good. It’s practical. You certainly can’t do much and expect to bear good results if you don’t have a plan of work. And you won’t get others to participate with you without an equitable plan. So how does God fit in the equation?
I used to know a man who would quote the saying above frequently. He experienced a good level of success applying the principle. A time came, however, where he found his plans bearing less fruit than expected. He experienced he had less control over life than he had hoped. One day I heard him say, “I need to do less planning and more praying.” He learned a valuable nugget of God’s truth and began to apply it.
RELEVANCE
Sovereign God reserves the right to agree with, adjust or veto our plans; better yet, ordain and establish them. It, therefore, is wise to bring Him into the boardroom at the outset of our planning; then continue seeking His will to keep on track as best as possible. Will there be speed bumps, surprise curves in the road or curve balls? Absolutely! All serve to cause us to dig deeper the wells of salvation and seek God for wisdom and solutions.
The Bible speaks of two master planners: David and Nehemiah. David established the plans for theTemple, which he prepared for Solomon; and Nehemiah set the plan to rebuild it after the Babylonian captivity. Both diligently sought God. See how David obtained his plans.
“Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat; and the plans for all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts… the chambers… the treasuries… for all the work of the service…”(1 Chronicles 28:11-14).
Solomon learned a lot about building, business and ruling a kingdom. He was the wisest and richest man of his time. He learned some key principles for living, and that as wise as it is to make plans, it is even wiser to be sensitive to God and allow Him to direct your steps.
“A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).
REFLECT AND RELATE
I know a successful businessman whose prayer room in the office resembles a strategic war room. He has truly made the LORD the LORD of the business. It shows. It pays. Invite God into your planning and trust Him to watch over and direct your work.
REFERENCES
Proverbs 19:21; 20:18; 21:5