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| from https://lsaruminations.edublogs.org/2016/02/01/my-plan-or-gods-plan-for-me/ |
How to Work God's Plan in a Godless World
This week in our devotion from the book "Leading from the Lion's Den" the author used the story of Jonah to illustrate his point that we shouldn't be overzealous about sticking to the plans we make by pointing to the familiar tale of how Jonah's planned visit to Tarshish was rerouted by a large hungry fish.
The author's point, as an owner and organizational leader at the highest levels, was that a failure to plan was just as detrimental as a blind, unwavering commitment to 100% adherence to the original plan, come what may. I completely understand and appreciate his point. But in doing so, it leads me to ask the question, "What can I, a mid-level people manager, do to impact the planning in my organization?" That's when I realized I was starting my search for answers in the wrong place. In order to learn how to work God's plan @ work I don't need to analyze my workplace, or examine the leadership philosophies and theological perspectives of my company's, business unit's or department's leaders.
In James 4:13-15 (Message translation) James writes to the scattered twelve tribes "And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, "Today - at the latest tomorrow - we're off to such and such a city for the year. We're going to start a business and make a lot of money." You don't know the first thing about tomorrow. You're nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, "If the Master wills it, and we're still alive, we'll do this or that."
So proper planning, in my personal, professional or life, in my personal or spiritual relationships, in ANY aspect of my life, should begin and end with the thought, the guiding principal that whatever I plan, it is with the full understanding that it is ONLY if the Master wills it that it will come to pass.
As Christians, we are uniquely positioned and well prepared to understand that our plans most often go against what God intends, because of our sinful nature. Faith is sacrifice. Faith in Jesus means that we have to let go of our plans and embrace His. Christian author and Pastor M. Craig Barnes explains this in his book "When God Interrupts"...
"But all this should come as no surprise to Christians, those who are called to lose their lives in order to find them. So if we try to follow Jesus, we can count on a great deal of abandonment. The good-but hard- news of the gospel is that abandonment can be embraced as the opportunity to receive new life. Will they clutch at something else for their salvation? Or can they leave their hands open long enough to receive the life Jesus was dying to give them."
The answer lies not in the effort you put into the plan itself, (although effort DOES matter), but in how well you prepare, in God's word and in prayer, BEFORE you begin, during the process and after you've developed, discussed and implemented the plan.
Later in the same book, Pastor Barnes speaks directly to the "mobile" nature of Jesus and His plan for us...
"One of the most frustrating things about Jesus is that he just won't settle down. He is constantly moving us away from the places where we would prefer to stay, like Galilee, and moving us closer to Jerusalem, where we do not want to go. ...He keeps pushing us toward a promise we cannot yet see. ...Along the way, Jesus will invite us to drop the things we are carrying that are heavy but deeply cherished. But don't look back. The loss is simply another step toward Jerusalem."
So, what's the secret to sticking to God's plan in a world that abhors God? Stick with God. Stick like glue to His word. Stick to His promises. Stick to the knowledge that He will ALWAYS stick with you, and that He has plotted out every twist, turn, up, down and in between to lead you to EXACTLY where you need to be.
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Lord Jesus,Make me sticky.
Sticky for You and stuck like glue to your Word.
Help me leave traces of that promise glue wherever I go today.
Amen.
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