Month: November 2018

Pray First, Then Plan

“Pray first, then plan” is a foundational approach to decision-making that prioritizes seeking divine guidance before taking action. It emphasizes aligning personal, business, or ministry plans with God’s will to ensure wisdom and purpose, rather than merely asking for blessing on pre-made plans. This practice fosters peace, reduces impulsive decisions, and encourages trust over anxiety

God calls us to pray. God also calls us to plan. There is a balance. We start with prayer, but we don’t end with prayer. Sometimes there is a person who is going through a crisis. The advice that is given them is to just pray. But that advice may not seem all that helpful if they have been praying. God does not make us passive victims of fate in some cosmic battle that is waging. He has equipped us with the Holy Spirit. Yes, we are to pray, but then we are to take the courage and the faith that God gives to us in prayer and act upon it. Make plans and execute those plans. Yes, pray! But don’t stop with prayer.

But maybe you are not as much a prayer person as you are a planning person. You got a problem, so you make your plans. You seek your solution. And then you ask God to bless your plan. You ask God to provide your solution. It is good that you are planning, but the problem is that you are planning without prayer. Prayer is the afterthought.

An example where this plays out is when a person loses his job. He sets a plan to find a new job. And then he prays to God to help him get that new job. You see the starting point was finding the new job. The solution was automatically to become employed. That is our plan. That is our solution. And it might very well be God’s solution. But maybe the season of unemployment is to lead you in a different direction. Or maybe the time without a job is an opportunity to gain a new experience. But if we are so focused on our plans without prayer, we might miss the thing that God is doing.

Instead of first determining the solution, start by seeking God in prayer. See where he would lead and the solution he would determine. Our plans are not always God’s plan. And we will find it much easier to succeed when we go with God’s plan.

Pray first. Then plan. Pray again. Then execute the plan.

Reflection
  1. Do you give greater emphasis to prayer or with planning?
  2. Do you have something in your life where you have prayed, but failed to take action?
  3. Do you have plans that you need to set aside so you can seek God’s will?
Prayer

Lord, sometimes I am paralyzed to inaction. I bring you my worries and concerns. You speak faith and courage into my life, and then I fail to take action. There are other times when I rush ahead of you with my plans and fail to seek your voice. Forgive me for failing to pray. Forgive me for failing to plan. Grant me your Holy Spirit that I would have the wisdom to pray and to plan so that your will would be accomplished in my life and that your kingdom would come through my words and actions. Amen.

 

Source:  philressler.com©

 

Don’t Sabotage Yourself by Quitting

Self-sabotaging behavior refers to intentional action (or inaction) that undermines people’s progress and prevents them from accomplishing their goals. Self-sabotage occurs when people hinder their own success.

While it seems surprising, some people undermine their own good intentions and long-term goals. When people take these destructive steps, their harmful behavior can negatively impact nearly every part of their lives including their relationships and career.

Self-sabotage often serves as a coping mechanism that people use to deal with stressful situations and past traumas. Unfortunately, it typically makes problems worse and limits a person’s ability to successfully move forward in a healthy way.