Chapter 3: Prayerfully Planning Ahead

How are you at planning your day? Are you one of those special people who can wake up in the morning and whatever life tosses your way, you're ready for the challenge? "A plan," you say, "who needs a plan? A plan is binding and life is meant to be lived without limitations." Actually, planning wisely assists us in bringing order to our day, to our week, ... to our life. The only time planning hinders us is when we get so caught up in sticking to a plan that we don't allow room for flexibility, people, or an act of God.

In chapter three of "Balancing Blessings and Obtaining Order" the focus was on "helping you to recognize God's authority in your life by including God in your life choices and by planning your days wisely." The chapter included tips for planning your day, it look at tasks verses projects, it covered establishing a routine, it discussed why we don’t plan, and the power of prayerful planning.

Having just started a job further from home, I recently had to alter my daily and nightly routine to incorporate the fact that I would be away from my home and my family longer than before. And although my work days were longer, believe me, my responsibilities at home still remained the same. I have found that it takes discipline to stick to a routine, but not sticking to it, causes far more problems and heartaches for me in the morning when I'm pressed to get to work on time.

If you are feeling like your days are out of control, take time to establish a routine; then begin to take time every morning and just present your day to God. Ask Him to “give [you] this day, [your] daily bread....” Then sit quietly for a moment and listen to God to speak to your heart before you begin to plan your day.

Next Week's Goal: Review Chapter 3 or Step 3, and finish chapter questions.

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Chapter 2: More on Priorities

Are you anything like me,… what you do first thing in the morning sets the tone for your entire day? That certainly rings true for me; if I miss time in prayer, I begin to feel frustrated, depressed, and or short-tempered. On the other hand if I make time for God, I normally feel as Moses felt when he uttered Psalm 90:14: I feel satisfied with God's mercy and loving-kindness.

In taking stock of my life this week, and answering the end of the chapter questions in chapter 2, once again my focus turned to praying over my priorities, and seeking God's presence and guidance regarding my priorities. I looked at what I valued, where my focus has been, what my goals were, who I spent most of my time with, and what I chose to do no matter how busy, tired or broke I was. I thought about relationships that I had forsaken all others for in the past, and relationships I currently feel the need to focus my time and energy on developing.

In re-evaluating my priorities in light of God's perspective, I was prompted to move "Health and Exercise" which was previously a "3" under Present to a "5" under God-Given. There were other adjustments that I was prompted to make, and that I plan to make, but the need to focus on my health stood out for me as I listened to God speak to me this week via a friend, through a busy life that often leaves me weary and worn out, and through the Word of God which says "[I was] bought at a price [Jesus death on the cross]; therefore [I should] glorify God in [my] body and in [my] spirit, which are God’s" (1 Corinthians 6:20).

Next Week's Goal: Read Chapter 3 or Step 3, and start chapter questions.

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