Planning – The Name Changing Agent II
- Admin
- Aug 14, 2024
- 3 min read
August 14, 2024
Read Genesis 41:28-30
Yesterday, we talked about planning involving the engagement of our physical and mental faculties, to discern the future that God has for us. To achieve this, we need faith. Planning is a demonstration of faith. If we don’t have a plan, we don’t have faith. Planning and faith go together.
It is a common misconception to think that faith will just work and make things happen without any input from our side. Some even go as far as thinking that planning is a contradiction of faith, as if to say that if you really had faith, then you don’t need to plan – things will just happen. This is a mistake.
In Matthew 6: 39 when Jesus was about to feed the 5000 people, he made plans on how to go about it. He did not just give orders to distribute the food. He planned for the most efficient way to do it.
Planning is a demonstration of faith. If we don’t have a plan, we don’t have faith. Planning and faith go together.
Planning facilitates the supernatural. Planning reveals gaps and risks, and thereby shows us how to pray about situations. Elijah, before the fire came down, had rebuilt the altar. That was the result of a plan.
In Genesis 6:13-15, God told Noah to build an ark. At the time, there was no rain. Yet, Noah followed a plan and quite diligently too, even in the face of open mockery from the rest of the world.
Planning is important for three reasons.
Firstly, planning can change your sight. When you discern the future God is showing, it is like dreaming. Planning is what translates this dream into reality. In Genesis 37:5-10, in Joseph’s dreams, he envisioned his brothers bowing down to him. This eventually came through mainly because Joseph had a plan that was accepted by Pharaoh. Without this plan, Pharaoh would not have promoted him, and his brothers would not have bowed to him just as he had seen in his dream. Therefore, we can conclude that the dream he had as a young boy was realized through the path of planning.
Secondly, planning can change the name of a season. The dream of Pharaoh was showing a season of hardship. But by planning, the name of that season changed from destruction to flourishing. Are you going through a rough season right now? God is able to show you a plan that will turn things around. Joseph went through a very rough patch, but his season changed due to the plans he gave to Pharaoh. In fact, the names of his children (Manasseh and Ephraim) were chosen to thank God that he survived those hard times.
Thirdly, planning will change your status. Joseph entered Pharaoh’s palace as a nobody, but in the blink of an eye, he became somebody. In proverbs 30:24-28, the ant is seen as wise instead of weak, because it plans for the winter and gathers food in the summer.
As Christians, we need to take our future seriously. We need to plan for growth. What is it going to take for us to grow our resources and finances? Our career? Our faith? Where there is no vision, the people perish (Proverbs 29:18).
Song of Worship
Truth is, you know what tomorrow brings.
There’s not a day ahead You have not seen.
So, in all things be my life and breath.
I want what You want Lord and nothing less
Song - Trust in you by Lauren Daigle.
Prayer - Father, help us to make proper plans. Be in the midst of our plans. Help us to focus and plan for our growth in all ramifications, that we may be able to properly propagate the gospel, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.