Planning Doesn't Remove Spontaneity

I'll be straight-up honest with you this morning. Until I met Jennifer, I was a mess. My life was spinning in five hundred directions, and I couldn't keep up with my schedule from one day to the next. I was constantly double-booking appointments, forgetting about tasks, and waiting until the last minute on everything. I thank God everyday for sending me a woman who had her act together (I love you Jennifer)

Fast forward about 7 years, my life is still spinning in five hundred directions, but I definitely have a plan and at least somewhat know where I'm headed. Planning not only guides my personal and family life, but it's also a huge part of being the pastor for The Overflow. This past weekend, I took the other 3 guys on our Leadership Team, and we planned for 2011. Actually, we first devoted a lot of time to being seriously focused in prayer and Bible study, and then we tried to be sensitive to the direction God was leading us for next year.

However, as I look around at many of our churches and even most Christians, the whole concept of planning has disappeared. We've forgotten where we are supposed to be going, and we've traded in who God wants us to be for who we've allowed ourselves to become! I'm tired of seeing those who claim to follow Christ settling for a life of normal, casual routine that produces minimal, if any, results for the Kingdom of God!

Some people fail to plan in advance because they say they are too busy. Others simply don't plan because they don't care enough to put in the effort. Then, there are some people, leaders, and even churches, who say they aren't going to plan in advance because it removes the spontaneity and leadership of the Holy Spirit. I would say that in all of our lives and churches, planning that is done in connection with prayer and faith will actually position us in the best place for responding to the spontaneous leadership of God. Why do we think God only works in the immediate? Is God not sovereign and able to guide our thoughts in advance?

This week, I'm going to share some principles on planning, and why I think planning in advance is not only beneficial, but also biblical and essential to the work that God wants to do in our lives!