Plan Your Busy Life
“If their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” Acts 5:38b-39
Why Do You Do Things
Do you ever stop and consider why you plan things? Do you do this before or after said “thing” has already been done?
Yes, it’s hard (if not impossible) to take the time to consider every plan in advance. But what if you stopped and had a quick conversation with the Holy Spirit. Planned, with Him, why you might do said “thing” and then took appropriate action.
If we’re going to successfully plan our busy lives we’ve got to do this. David and Solomon conferred with God and other believers before acting and Jesus always talked things out with His Father (more on this tomorrow).
There are a lot of things you have to plan and say “yes” to but would they look different if you considered them with God first?
Truth: To successfully plan a busy life, you’ve got to plan it with God.
Talking with God
God’s word says: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.” Philippians 4:6(love the NLT translation of this verse) and 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says “pray all the time”.
Having conversations with God doesn’t have to be a big to do. Granted, it is a big to do but…He wants real conversations with you.
Wants you to talk with Him like you talk to your best friend, husband, or wife.
There are times and places for on your knees prayers but God knows you’ve got life to do.
Talk to Him about it.
- When’s the last time you talked with God?
- Do you talk to Him throughout the day?
- What are some things you talk about?
Big question here –
- Do you do all the talking or do you spend more time listening?
Truth: God wants to talk with you about everything.
Involving God
Before saying “yes” to anything, consider why you’re doing it. Why you might need to do this thing or things.
You also have to mentally adjust for what success looks like in God’s eyes.
You and I might define success as completing everything on a to-do list, finishing a huge project at work, cleaning the entire house from top to bottom but…God may not see success that way.
In his book Counterfeit God’s, Tim Keller says: “personal success and achievement lead to a sense that we ourselves are God….To be the very best at what you do, to be at the top of the heap, means no one is like you. You are supreme.”
If we say yes for those reasons, we’re not on God’s success path.
One of the key ways God sees success is in how we steward the things He’s given us. These things include our
- time,
- relationships,
- resources, and
- ourselves.
You and I have to ask God if He thinks we’re growing the resources He’s given us.
- How does saying yes to something impact these resources?
- Is saying yes about self-glorification or glorifying God?
Truth: When you involve God in your day-to-day decisions and only say “yes” to the things He wants you to…ready for this?
You will succeed at it.
You will have God on your side and nothing, no thing, person, or otherwise will be able to stop you.
I’ll be bold enough to say this even applies to the mundane “gotta do’s” in our life. House cleaning, grocery shopping, going to work, driving the kids around, meal planning, physical activity…everything.
Make sure you’re plugged into your power source, the Holy Spirit and go, consider why you do things. Consider them, and then plan your life, with God.
Food for Thought
- How many of your day-to-day decisions do you involve God in?
- What might happen if you only said yes to the things God told you to?
- Do you know how to recognize the Holy Spirit or God speaking to you?
- What decisions do you need to talk with God about?
- When you read the above verses, what comes to mind?
- What is the Holy Spirit showing you?
As always, if you don’t understand or have questions about anything we’ve written, go to your pastor. If you don’t have a pastor, send us an email [email protected] or drop a comment in the box below.
We love being able to pray with you so please comment or email us so we can be supporting you in prayer.
Until next time, Hannah and Sarah
Bible Verses on Success
Here’s a printable PDF of the verses: Bible Verses on Success
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Proverbs 3:1-4
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. James 4:10
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
And keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in His ways and keeping His statutes, His commandments, His rules, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn… 1 Kings 2:3
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him. 1 Samuel 18:14
We pray you have success in all your undertakings as well, for the Lord IS with you.
