Praying Over Your Plans and Goals
"A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps." (Proverbs 16:9) Planning isn't unspiritual. Planning without praying is.
Plans and faith go together
The Bible honors careful planning. "The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness" (Proverbs 21:5). Jesus spoke of counting the cost before building a tower (Luke 14:28). But Scripture also warns against making plans as if tomorrow were ours to command: "For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that" (James 4:15).
The answer isn't to stop planning. It's to plan on your knees.
Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
Praying over each area of life
- Faith. "Lord, draw me closer to You this year. Show me where I've grown cold."
- Family. "Make our home a place of peace. Show me how to love them well."
- Health. "My body is Your temple. Give me discipline and wisdom with it."
- Work and business. "Establish the work of my hands (Psalm 90:17). Let me work heartily, as unto You."
- Money. "Everything I have is Yours. Make me faithful with little and with much."
- Service. "Show me who I'm meant to help. Open a door for me to serve."
A weekly planning prayer
Before you fill in next week's calendar, take ten minutes:
- Look back. Thank God for last week, specifically.
- Lay it out. Write your plans and goals for the week.
- Hand it over. Pray over each item. Ask, "Lord, is this Yours?"
- Hold it loosely. Write "If the Lord will" at the top of the page. Mean it.
- Pick one step. What is the one faithful thing to do first?
Measure your decisions by the century, not by the moment. When you pray over a plan, ask what it will mean in a hundred years, for your children, your church and the people who come after you.
Tools that help
A planner with room for Scripture makes this a habit. See Mrs. Ant's Stewardship Planner and the 2027 Wisdom Trail Planner in Books & Gifts, or the September prayer calendar, which is built around purpose and work.
