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Don’t Leave God Out of Your Plans
I have written much about planning and goal setting. It would be easy to get the idea that if you just plan well enough or persist long enough you will succeed. Frankly, I don’t think this is enough.
I was reminded again this morning of a Bible verse that has become very important to me in recent years:
Ultimately, we cannot do anything of lasting value unless God blesses our work. The Apostle Paul reminds the believers at Corinth:
This statement doesn’t diminish the work of Paul or of Apollos. If you have read anything about either of their lives, you know that both men possessed incredible faith and courage. They worked hard. They endured setbacks without losing heart. But, at the end of the day, they also knew that it was all in vain unless God “gave the increase.â€
No one knows this better than a farmer. The farmer can till and fertilize the soil. He can plant the seed. He can chase off varmints. He can spray for bugs. He can even irrigate his fields. But he can’t make it rain. Nor can he restrain the winds, the lightening, or the hail. At the end of the day, whether he acknowledges it or not, he is dependent on God for a successful harvest.
This is true in any endeavor. This has at least three implications for today’s success-oriented leaders:
Trust God. If you don’t need God to pull off what you are planning, you are not dreaming big enough. In case you are wondering, no, you are not smart enough. No, you don’t have enough experience. and, no, you don’t have enough resources. But with God, all things are possible (see Mark 10:27).
Work hard. Too often, people want to exercise faith in lieu of real work. But these should never be pitted against one another (see James 2:14–18). They go hand in hand. Trust God and then work your buns off.
This sounds pretty simple, right? The problem is in living it out.
Many people do #1 and #3 pretty well. But it is #2 that we can forget if we are not careful. I believe that man was created to be in a relationship with God. This is the real purpose of life. If success serves that purpose, great. But if it causes us to forget God and act as if he doesn’t exist, then, in his love for us, he is quick to remind us how finite our own resources are and how much we need him.
How would you rate this post?
Tony Jacobs says:
Good stuff, Mike!
Monday, February 11, 2008 at 05:37 PM
Timothy Fish says:
I especially like #2. "If you don’t need God to pull off what you are planning, you are not dreaming big enough." We normally take the attitude that we'll do what we can, but sometimes we run into things that only God can handle. This statement turns it around so that we are looking for the situations that only God can handle.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 06:41 AM
Colleen Coble says:
A great reminder, Mike! What I see the lack of most often around me is humility. None of us have accomplished anything without God's hand in it, yet I see people getting more and more puffed up by successes they might have had.
I LOVE your trust God comment! I clearly need to dream bigger. LOL Thanks for the shot in the arm today!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 06:50 AM
Douglas Schultz says:
Very well said. I really like the idea behind number 2 of big dreams. We can never dream bigger than God!! Thanks for reminding me of these promises.
Doug
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 06:58 AM
Eric S. Mueller says:
Amen, Michael. I've struggled a lot lately about where the line falls between setting goals and letting God provide the increase. I still haven't figured it out, and I don't know if I ever will, but I try not to forget.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 07:35 AM
A Beginner says:
I haven't been getting your newsletter very long, but today struck me. I am fresh out of college working at my first "real job." I can't count how many times I've thought, "I don't have enough experience," or "how in the world am I going to turn this into a success," but I really think you nailed it on the head when you wrote:
"In case you are wondering, no, you are not smart enough. No, you don’t have enough experience. and, no, you don’t have enough resources."
God is REALLY big - bigger than any of the problems we face at work, no matter how big they seem. Learning to trust Him in a work setting is a lot like starting a new relationship with Him. It is a relationship, however, I know I couldn't have survived up to this point without.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 08:06 AM
Kim says:
Michael,
This is a wonderful, timely message! I have to sit in the a-men corner on #2 though. Trusting Him when the way seems impossible...that's often where I give up or jump ahead with another plan. I pray we all learn to trust Him completely and be obedient to where He is leading each of us!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 08:25 AM
David says:
Mike,
#2 reminds me of a message I once heard from Andy Stanley: What are you praying for that is so big that the only way it can happen is if God intervenes? God wants us to pray big, then trust Him. Thanks for jogging my memory this morning, I think I must have needed it!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 08:52 AM
Natalie Hanemann says:
In the Catholic tradition, we have a prayer that really helps me stay humble. We call it "the Jesus prayer." It says:
Jesus, son of the living God, have mercy on me, a poor sinner.
Thanks for a great post, Mike.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 09:54 AM
Kim says:
Thank you for the reminding us that it's a leaning back into Him and a moving forward at the same time (rest=trust)! Dreaming with God is such an adventure. It's one of my favorite things to do. -Blessings
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Dan Meub says:
This is a great post and is so true. If we truly want to honor God in everything we do then we need to actively seek His direction in all we do. We are such creatures of habit that unless we insert a discipline to do this, it is hard to keep spun up. For me, I've adopted a very simple behavior "everything starts with prayer". The more I do it, the more it becomes a habit.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Gary Davidson says:
Thank you, Mike. We need to be reminded of this on a regular basis. God's blessing will be the reason for our ultimate success and when we have success we can give him all the glory.
God Bless us,
Gary
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 02:25 PM
Mary E. DeMuth says:
The trust part is hard, particularly for freelance authors trying to earn a living. Money comes in fits and spurts. I firmly believe being a missionary prepared me to be a writer in that regard.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 04:45 PM
MM says:
Hi Mike-
I agree with the others... great and timely post. I think I'm someone who struggles with #2 a lot. I tend to lean on God and give Him my cares only to turn right around and take them back. Pray that I can become more mature in my relationship with Christ and not be guilty of what is described in James 1:6-8.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 04:48 PM
Misty says:
Great post. :) Very encouraging.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 05:11 PM
Bill says:
A wise man once told me, "Pray" like it depends on God. "Work" like it depends on you. Great reminder's MIke. Thanks.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 05:56 PM
Don F. says:
"The Lord delights in doing abundantly more than we can ever ask or imagine in us and through us."
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 06:45 PM
Barry A. Smith says:
Thanks Michael. I can never be reminded too much about this and I appreciate this encouragement.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 10:47 PM
Temitayo Favour Nicole Ajobo says:
The scripture says "trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding aknowledge him in all your ways and he shall direct your path" and faith without works is dead". since the bible encourages us to trust God and to work hard and the lord lifts the humble. We should trust God's words for our lives and he would bring his promises to pass.
We will plant and water we will labour with the master God will give the increase and we will multiply
Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 09:05 AM
Brittany says:
Thanks for the post Mike. I too tend to forget that the Lord's thoughts are higher than our thoughts and that his ways are higher than our ways. (Isaiah 55:8-9). With him, what can be accomplished is far greater than we could ever dream. I was reminded of this in yesterday's 3:16 meeting; who could have possibly known what all the Lord had in store for that project?
Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Rachel Hauck says:
Mike, what a great post. So clearly said with such truth. I've been meditating on this recently, working to align my heart with this reality.
Remember when David sinned by counting the people and God gave him a choice of punishments. David chose to give himself and the people into God's hands because of His great mercy.
I think that's what I want for my life. God is so loving and merciful, how can I not trust Him with my life and well being? Rather trust in myself and my weaknesses? No! Or trust in "man?" No.
We fair so much better if we trust it ALL to Him but it's a faith walk and not always easy. However, a very worthy preoccupation.
Blessings to you.
Rachel
Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 10:42 AM
Shirley Buxton says:
God help me to lay down my hammer, and throw away my own plans...let the Master builder take His rightful place in my life.
Thank you.
Shirley Buxton
www.shirleybuxton.wordpress.com
Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Mamdouh Ezz says:
I totally agree with you.
However, I think that Western cultures tend to rely on one's abilities and potentials a lot more than they do on God's help and his will.
Whereas, we Middle Easterns do the exact opposite!
But, I personally think that there should be a middle zone, where you do your best and work hard and still count on God and trust in him.
Mamdouh
El Malak Pharmacy Blog
http://elmalakrx.com/blog
Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 03:56 PM
Bill says:
God and I have taken a vow of silence toward one another. We do not talk. If something difficult must be accomplished, I work hard and smart until it is accomplished. We smile at each other, but only because we are both incurable optimists. God never tells me which part It accomplished, and which part I accomplished. Probably because it does not matter.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 04:42 PM
Chera Federle says:
Amen. Sometimes we just need to let go and let God, don't we? If we say we love him, we must follow him. Following him is trusting him unto all things in our lives. A wonderful post to start my day with. Thank you.
Friday, February 15, 2008 at 08:49 AM
Carol Hatcher says:
I love this post. How true! A verse that the Lord laid on my heart is this: Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.Proverbs 19:21 I'm a big time planner. So remembering that God's plans are more important than mine is a must! Thanks!
Sunday, February 17, 2008 at 07:22 PM
Lauren at Faith Fuel says:
Interesting that I'm hearing this message, again, after reading this morning something along the same lines. "Ask the Lord for rain in the time of the latter rain"(Zech 10:1)- in other words, it's Spring time, and everyone knows it rains in the Spring. Of course it will rain in this season. Why bother asking God for rain in the Spring time. But you're saying what I heard the Lord saying to my heart this morning-
"Ask me for the increase. Ask me for the blessing and the favor- even if, and especially if, you think you already have natural circumstances in your favor." And then how much more should we ask Him and trust Him for blessing our work when we DON'T see any circumstantial support of our dream?! It is then that He delights to show up....and show up big time.
Monday, February 25, 2008 at 01:28 PM
Mike says:
"unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain." (Psalm 127:1)
This quote is very important to me. As an entrepreneur, it reminds me of the reasons why being honest and ethical is better.
Unethical practices and shady dealings would take up much energy, create unneccessary stress, paranoia, and guilt.
Dishonesty is incredibly stressful on the mind. It's been proven. Just act honestly!
A great example of how personal success and following the Bible are aligned. If you build an honest living according to God's blueprints, it will bring personal success. Even financial failure would produce growth and a lesson to learn from. I think God can help you cut through the uncertaintiy and be strong when you take the risk.
And in line with what Carol said above me...once you start picking up the momentum, God doesn't need to let go of the bicycle seat. Success will beget success.
Sunday, May 04, 2008 at 01:20 PM
Acomplia says:
Lovely post. Please add my email address to your list and email me the updates if possible. I always like to read your blog and comment on it.
Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 09:35 PM
Sacramento Electrician says:
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Friday, August 22, 2008 at 01:06 PM