Have a Plan

"On this I'll stand, on this alone: All my hope, all my strength, and all my confidence is in knowing I've received every victory! Through the cross, through the blood, it is finished, it is done! I am saved! I am free! You are every victory!" Newsong's lyrics to "Every Victory" remind us that, "With God we will gain the victory, and He will trample down our enemies." (Psalm 60:12, NIV)

The central verses for tonight are 1 Corinthians 16:5-6, 8-9: "After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you--for I will be going through Macedonia. Perhaps I will stay with you awhile, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go...But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me." (NIV)

Paul had a plan for his travels. He didn't just wander from place to place aimlessly.

We, as leaders, must also plan. There may be instances that require us to act on a whim, but for the most part, we need to have things carefully sorted out so that everything within our control is taken care of. Not only do we need to do this for ourselves but for our followers as well. We should show them that we know what we're doing. And when we don't, we must remind them to rely on and trust in God, reassuring them that He is guiding their leaders. After all, "With God we will gain the victory, and He will trample down our enemies." (Psalm 60:12, NIV) He is every victory!

The reflection question asks: "What kind of plan do you have?"

Right now, I plan on starting graduate school in August. I hope to join at least one student organization and serve in a leadership capacity. I enjoy being a leader, and rightly so, since that is the gift that the Good Lord has bestowed upon me.

What are your plans? Do you have any? If you don't, you should probably sit down and really think about where you are going and where you want to go. If there is any deviation between the two, make some corrections. What do you need to do to get where you want to go? Make sure to include God in your plans! Proverbs 16:3 says: "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." (NIV)

God bless you!