How to Hold Your Plans

Working as a dean of men at a Bible college I see many students minds filled with questions. When your life is coming to fruition in one or four year segments the question often arises, “what is the will of God concerning…” This seems to be a theme for all those in colligate studies. These young hopefuls have looming over them this daunting task of making plans that alter the course of their lives. This task is made all the more difficult because our worlds are so subject to change and in that so are our plans. So, not only is there the task of making your plans, an equally daunting task is how one ought to hold these plans. Some students have a 10 and 20 year plan for their lives and yet others are doing well to have the next 20 minutes planned out. Whatever your personality tends to, be it a four year plan or a four meal plan it is important how you hold your plans. In my limited experience up till now I have seen three ways to hold ones plans: not holding any, squeezing them tightly, or holding them loosely.

            For some when asked, “Where you headed?” or “Where do you want to see yourself in ten years?” if plans to run away to Never Never land don’t come through the honest answer in their minds is they have no idea. This type of plan holder is not big on plan B’s, or plan A’s for that matter. This is the first category not holding anything. Because this trend is so common we have almost tried to make it trendy and spiritual. Some feel that your hands must be empty for the Lord to fill them so they keep their slate completely clean not wanting to commit to anything waiting on the day the Lord makes vividly clear there purpose for that chapter of life. I once spoke to a man in the park who told me adamantly, “I wouldn’t be caught dead with a plan.” I respect this man greatly and I understand that the Lord can speak very clearly at times in our lives, but it has become the opinion of some that it is a carnal manifestation of pride to have any plan at all. I don’t know that we need be so drastic. If we are honest with ourselves the simple fact of the matter is we must plan to some degree. My friend in the park surely had at least enough plan that day to get his entire family loaded into the car and to the park. Plans are a part of life and we are better off when we stop trying to deny it. One can only fly so far flying by the seat of his pants. Yes we must wait on the Lord, but that need not mean that we be inactive and directionless. We see even in Jesus parables that when He left his servants with talents he expected them to take the initiative to invest them well.

            Next there are those who hold on tightly. They have all their weeks, day, and hours down to a T. These people love to be in control and when they get their mind set on a plan they must see it come to pass, there is no other option. These are often the organized worrieres that always make things happen. They are big dreamers and they carry big planners. They feel it is all part of their stewardship in redeeming the time to have every passing moment panned and used to its fullest potential. In the most drastic cases when someone is “holding on tightly” and a plan falls through, they have a nervous breakdown. If it is a less advanced case of hold-it-tight-anitous at the very least are thoroughly annoyed. If there was ever a category I am not found in it is this one. My Grandmother however can plan with the best of them. She can organize a musical and a five course meal in the same evening, but she unlike her young grandson she has more difficult rolling with the punches. A risk these plan holders face is they often begin to identify themselves in their plans and they feel they fall with their plans should the plans fall through.

            The final category, I believe the Lord is teaching me, is to “hold them loosely.” One may and ought to have plans from time to time but we ought also expect change. Looking at life we make the best choices we can and then we rest knowing we did all we could that day to use it for the Lord. This person has a plan but is not surprised when things get shaken up. Truth be told I first saw this life style in the ministry of Paul the Apostle. When he was departing on his second missionary journey his goal was to minister to the churches in northern turkey, because he saw a good ministry opportunity there, and a need he could fill. So he began to move in that direction. He was in route when the Lord spoke to him in a vision giving him the call to Macedonia, a change of plans. He readily accepted and the Lord blessed his ministry for it. Looking at life as a blank page, if you’re holding loosely, you do not fight the Lord for the right to hold the pen, or the eraser. You have a direction, you have a good sensible goal, but you are also ready to move at the voice of the master where ever He may call.

            Plans are an inevitable part of life even for the believer. How we hold them greatly affects our experience. So look at your plans, are your hands empty lacking direction or initiative? Are your fists clenched around the plans because you have already decided what you want to take place in your life? Or are you holding your plans loosely, ready to work to the best of your knowledge, but ready to accept that the Lord’s plan is greater than your own.