Is It Good to Plan?
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.—Prov. 16:9
I am a planner by nature. I take a composition notebook that functions as my daily schedule and journal everywhere with me. It keeps me on track as well as provides a place for me to jot down any new ideas.
But when I read Scripture, I get mixed views on planning. Moses famously says to teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom (Ps. 90:12). Paul exhorts us to make the best use of the time because the days are evil (Eph. 5:16). However, Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow (Matt. 6:34).
So what do we do?
Yes, We Should Plan…
There is no suggestion in Scripture that planning is sinful or a sign of a lack of faith. In fact, Prov. 21:5 tells us that the plans of the diligent lead to abundance and that hastiness (implying a lack of planning or doing things spontaneously as the whim leads) leads to poverty.
After all, God makes plans. He has plans for the welfare of His people (Jer. 29:11), purposes for those who love Him (Rom. 8:28), even through times of suffering. He has our days written in His book (Psalm 139:16), filled with good works that He has “prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).”
So yes, we should plan, for our God makes plans!
…But We Should Plan With A Humble Heart and Open Hands
Planning itself is not sinful. The real issue is the heart out of which we plan.
Am I planning out of fear or a need to control my future? Or am I planning in faith and trust, as an act of diligence?
Do I just want God’s stamp of approval on my plans? Or am I seeking His purposes and planning to carry them out?
If I believe God is writing a story and I am His servant, then my plans will reflect that. Understanding His purposes help give me the backdrop. His will serves to guide me in making my plans, how to spend my time and steward my resources well.
So How Does This Look?
Several Scriptures help me in my planning process.
Is this in line with God’s purposes (Prov. 19:21)? No matter how great my ideas are, no matter how detailed my plans, if it is at cross-purposes with God’s, it will fall short, even if I am successful.
Are others on board (Proverbs 20:18)? Including other wise counselors can help me from being short-sighted and provide some protection and accountability.
Will I hold my plans with open hands (James 4:13-17)? This means trusting Him with the outcomes and not manipulating things if they go differently. Can I think “If the Lord wills” regarding this situation? Am I willing to accept it if He leads elsewhere?
Conclusion
Again, planning in and of itself is not sinful. But if I plan in order to retain control or get my way, then it is.
So before I plan, I ask the Lord to search and try my heart. Sometimes there are anxious thoughts that prompt my plans (Psalm 139:23).
Even if there are, acknowledging these before Him is a start. From there, I make my plans with a different heart, recognizing my weakness. Covering the plans in prayer from start to finish helps remind me that I am His servant, not that He is mine.
And at the end, I pray that through them, His Kingdom will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:10).
