Plan

Upon reflection on the idea of planning, the thought occurred to me that at the end of the day, our plans and the intentionality inserted into that process ultimately lead us somewhere.

Diligent planning, it seems, is a practice that ensures we are staying in alignment with strategic vision. Scripture also indicates that through that process we are putting ourselves in the best position to be successful. As believers, we cannot expect to reap an abundant harvest without sowing a sacrificial seed.

This thought led me down a path to consider how to sow a sacrificial seed that would one day yield a bountiful return. Reflecting on the parable of the seed sower in Matthew 13, we can view this as an opportunity to learn about how we can plan for the sowing of the seeds we have been entrusted to plant.

Three times we see in this account where the scattered sowing of seed led to demise. The seed that fell on the path was eaten, the seed that fell in the rocks had no root, and the seed that fell in the thorns was choked.

This led me to my next question: why then does the seed that fell on good soil prosper? It seems that this ground was the desired path for the seed, and, by it being in alignment with the path God desires, it was able to produce an incredible harvest. Notice, even the seed that fell on the good soil had to surrender itself in the hope and promise of something greater! A seed, when placed in the right environment and given the right attention, will unequivocally produce far more than it ever could have imagined.

Each one of us has been given seeds each day, and they manifest themselves in the form of seconds, minutes, and hours. As we strive to steward well the blessing of time, it is crucial that we put diligent effort into planning our actions to ensure they align with God. Planning takes intentionality, and, when we invite the Holy Spirit into that process, it can lead to amazing blessings, which leaves us with the ultimate choice - obedience.

Questions to Consider

1. Have there been times in your life where hasty decisions or lack of intentional planning led to challenges or missed opportunities? How did these experiences shape your perspective on the importance of planning?
2. How can you cultivate "good soil" in various areas of your life to ensure that your plans align with God's desires?