Wisdom for Planners 

Have you ever planned a road trip with friends? Everyone must do it at least once in their life! What begins as a great idea quickly turns into a frenzy of details before your group hits the road. There are bags to pack, hotels to book, travel snacks to buy, playlists to download. 

Imagine going to all the effort to plan, pack and prepare, but neglecting to fuel the car. Even the most well-planned road trip remains at a standstill if there is no fuel in the tank. It turns out that fuel (which doesn’t sound very exciting) is the most important component. 

When it comes to achieving our future plans, attaining wisdom is the most important component. It’s the fuel in the tank which causes us to get on in life. 

Proverbs 4:7 tells us ‘Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.’ 

Written by King Solomon, the Book of Proverbs is filled with practical wisdom so we can know how to avoid folly, make sound decisions and see good success. In this final instalment of our Grand Plans. Small Steps plan, let’s consider four principles of wise planning from the Book of Proverbs 

1. Be prayerful 

Proverbs 16:3

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. 

Don’t underestimate the promptings, guidance and wisdom that God could download into you heart when you pray. Start and finish your plans with prayer.  

2. Be teachable 

Proverbs 20:18

Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war. 

Pride makes us to believe that we have a personal monopoly on life’s wisdom. A teachable person is quick to realize that there are other people who could add perspective, knowledge and improvements to their plan. 

3. Be patient 

Proverbs 21:5

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. 

When vision is birthed in our heart, it most often produces great enthusiasm. Left unchecked, that enthusiasm can cause us to be hasty with our planning and decision making. Take the time to pray, get wise counsel, count the cost and chart a course.  

4. Be flexible

Proverbs 19:21

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. 

Remember, plans may be godly, but plans are not God! It’s the purpose of the Lord that prevails, so don’t be so rigid with your plans that you cannot flex and lean into God’s paths as they open to you.