How to Make Planning an Act of Faith
Time Management for Believers – Part 5
A person who comes to the realization that he or she needs to manage what’s done with time is a person who wishes to achieve something that hasn’t been done. In other words, people who need time management are looking to change the future, their future. Remember the ultimate goal of time management and planning is to design and achieve a future state you desire. It’s not to manage time or plan for managing time for the sake of it. There’s a goal, a dream, a desire for something or some action to be seen manifested at a future time.
People who schedule time for exercise aren’t scheduling it for the sake of exercise, but rather to achieve a desired weight or to eliminate a health issue, etc. There’s a purpose. People who plan are thinking about the future. Therefore planning is an act of faith. In the faith community we would call this walking by faith. “We walk by faith, not by sight.” [1] We see something one way, but make a plan, a set of actions to make it so that we can see it another way at some future time. Planning and managing what we do with time is an action of faith which works like this.
- Change what you believe.
Forget what others are saying to you and do what you do. People, normal people would have you believe that life just happens. That’s true for ordinary people. However, if you believe that you’re not ordinary or that you no longer have to be average, then you can direct your course. You can have a life that you design. To do so, we have to stop listening to those who believe that you can’t and find some people who believe you can. What you believe is what you become. For what’s in your heart produces what you see in your life. [2] - Build your plan.
Allow me to go to the left for a second. Dreaming and imagining are the easy parts. Putting action to your dreams starts with planning. I’ve heard it said of Richard Williams, father to Venus and Serena Williams, that he had a plan for their lives that was over 80 pages long. Think about that for a minute. His plan for their lives was so important that he wrote it in great detail. When you become as serious about your life as Richard was about his and his girls, then you too will put the work in of having a plan. If for no other reason, your life is the business that God has given you to manage. Therefore you need a plan that paints a picture for where you’re heading and what you intend to accomplish with it. Have you answered questions like this about your plans for life?- What leaders have you found to mentor you in what you desire to do?
- How does your home and your possessions fit into your plans?
- What financial plans do you have in place to achieve your dreams?
- How are you managing the office work needed for your life?
- What example is your life setting for those who see you?
- How are you caring for the people in your life who help you achieve your plans?
- How does your employment add to you achieving your dreams?
- What legacy will remain after you’ve achieved your plans?
- Pray at every step of the way.
I can not say this enough. Everything starts and stops with prayer. If you’re not praying, asking, and seeking, you don’t have to worry about receiving and finding. Prayer is the key to your success. You should pray every step of the way. Please note this. Prayer is not simply a request for a problem that you have. Prayer is you becoming a farmer who sows seeds in the ground that will produce a harvest in the future. Prayer is what people of faith do to get God’s involvement and input into their plans. Pray every step of the way.
Like Richard Williams, you are designing a life. The question becomes what kind of life have you designed? If you’re not satisfied with what you are seeing in the design of the life you’re currently living, then you can change that with a new plan. Stop what you are doing right now and start your planning process. You see, your life depends on it. Your next-level life depends on it.
Question: are you living the life you’ve designed?
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[1] 2 Corinthians 5:7 NLT, Bible.com, accessed January 17, 2023, https://www.bible.com/bible/116/2CO.5.7.NLT
[2] Proverbs 27:3 NLT, Bible.com, accessed January 17, 2023, https://www.bible.com/bible/116/PRO.27.3.NLT
All Scripture references used by permission, see our Scripture copyrights
