Planning

  • John Alwood
  • Apr 27, 2010
  • Series: Infusion Blog

 

blogpic_john  by John Alwood


We talk about wanting to do this, and wanting to do that. Plans are a good thing. God does not discourage making plans as long as we know that it is He who "determines our steps." (Pr. 16:9) We plan knowing God's will may take us down a different path than we anticipated. We hold loosely to our plans, and we don't allow them to become an idol where we place our significance and hope, but rather we ultimately rest in the promises of God through Jesus. 

Here are some things I've learned over the years (there are lots more, believe me) about my plans:

 

  1. What is most important about a plan is not the plan itself, or even necessarily the desired outcome. It is Jesus and his glory (Pr. 16:3).
  2. Working through a plan always takes more patience on my part.
  3. Talking about the plan is not nearly as important as actually seeing something happen.
  4. Future plans gain credibility with people I lead when we actually execute on the present plan.
  5. If the plan is really from God, then I must trust that he has also called people to fund and work the plan.
  6. The success of the plan unfolding should not completely rest on my shoulders. It is a spiritual discipline to share responsibility and actions with the community, and most importantly the sovereignty of God, to see things happen.
  7. The project is usually better and more meaningful when we plan it, rather than when I plan it (Pr. 15:22).
  8. Over-planning can stifle the project and burn out people.
  9. If nobody else sees the value in my plan, then I may be communicating ineffectively, or it may be a dumb plan.
  10. It is always a pleasure to see the creativity of God reflected in his people through the planning process.
  11. I've had to learn to admit that I don't know everything I need to know about planning this project.
  12. There is always more pain, criticism, and sacrifice involved in working out a plan than I ever expect.
  13. The pain, criticism, and sacrifice I experience in working a plan is meant to humble me and cause me to depend more on Jesus.
  14. I have found the value in allowing a critic to give input into my plan.
  15. It is very cowardly and ineffective to wait for "all the stars to line up" and "have all my i's dotted and t's crossed" before we execute our plan. 
  16. A plan can always be more efficient.
  17. It's not about the plan, its about what is accomplished as a result of it.
  18. I'm better off planning based on the opportunities God is already giving me, instead of trying to push his will (James 4:13-16).