”The simple believes everything, but the prudent looks where he is going.” (Prov. 14:15) The difference between planning and not planning is whether you look where you are going in the future or whether you focus all your attention on the immediate right in front of you.
Prov. 16:3 ”Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established/ succeed.” How can you plan in such a way that what you produce will have abiding value and not just pass away overnight? Answer: Commit it to the Lord. That is, always seek the Lord’s guidance and strength in your planning. Trust His wisdom and not your own. Then your plans will bear fruit that remains.
Not to plan is considered foolish and dangerous. This is true even though the Proverbs teach that we do not know what the future may bring. ”A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Prov. 16:9.)
Acts 2:23 states; ”This Jesus (was) delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God.” Since God is a God who does all things according to plan it applies to us to approach the most important things of life with forethought and plan, not randomly or carelessly.
Jesus had a mission to accomplish, and He finished it with forethought and planning. When his mother urged him to do a miracle at the wedding in Cana, He said, ”My hour is not yet come” John 2:4). There was a planned and appointed hour for the revelation of his power. He would stay with the plan.
Luke 9:51 says; ”When the days grew near for him to be received up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.” He knew that the plan meant death in Jerusalem, but he didn’t shrink back from the plan.
Jesus wasn’t driven against his will. The Father’s plan was his plan. Jesus said in John 10:18 – ”No one takes my life from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this charge I have received from my Father.”
So, as you plan for 2025, plan for the most important things in your life. Plan how you are going to spend time with your spouse or friends to deepen and strengthen relationships. Plan how you are going to spend time playing with and teaching the children. Plan how you are going to get the amount of exercise you need to stay healthy. Plan how you are going to get enough sleep. Plan how much you should eat and how you are going to limit yourself. Plan your vacation so that it really gives rest and spiritual renewal.
And most importantly, plan how prayer and meditation on the Word are going to be significant parts of your life. But it won’t work just to plan something tonight or tomorrow. Planning must be a regular part of your life. The greatest Missionary who ever lived was a Planner. God is a God who does all things according to plan. And Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem because of the most loving plan ever devised. He planned for our joy; we ought to plan for His glory.
Oh, blessed Redeemer, help me to plan my hours and weeks, months and this year according to Your plans and purposes for me. Give me courage, time, fresh motivation and godly strength to place YOU first, then everything else will fall into place. Thank You that You KNOW the perfect plans You have for me. Amen
Myrtle Turunen