May 15, 2019 –
Many people are familiar with the process of business planning. But, few people have applied the planning process to their personal life, much less their spiritual growth.
Spiritual planning is not an easy task, but it doesn’t have to be a chore. Planning takes time. From the start, you need to spend spiritual reconnaissance time—praying, studying God’s word, gaining information, seeking guidance, and having a sensitivity to the direction of the Holy Spirit.
Spiritual planning begins with a fundamental question, “What does God want to do through me?” The answer to this question is God’s goal for you. Despite the benefits of spiritual planning, few Christians have a plan. There are eight reasons Christians do not plan.
EIGHT REASONS FOR FAILURE TO PLAN
- 1. Planning is not a priority. This excuse often comes disguised in the statement, “I don’t have enough time to plan.” Everyone has the same amount of time. We spend time on activities we feel are important to us, events that are urgent or have a high reward value.
- 2. Lack of planning ability. Planning boils down to a few steps: 1. Know where you are; 2. Know where you want to go; 3. Devise a method for getting there
- Apathy or indifference. The response of the fatalist; whatever is to be will be. If you aren’t convinced that planning will make a difference and help you toward spiritual maturity and a walk with God, you will not put effort into developing a plan.
- Ignorance. Some people don’t know they should make spiritual plans or even how to develop strategies.
- Believing that planning is a straitjacket. People do not plan because they don’t want to be boxed in. They resent goals and measurements because in the past when they could not achieve a goal or complete a task, they feel they failed. And by failing, they have become failures. So, to avoid further failures, they will not be measured against a benchmark.
- Resistance to change. People often resist change because they may be uncertain of their ability to take on new roles. Sometimes people prefer the status quo to something new. They prefer the familiar to the unfamiliar. People who don’t see a need for change are seldom motivated to seek change. To leave the comfort and security of their present spiritual paradigm and enter a new spiritual paradigm may be difficult.
- Fear of failure. Lack of self-confidence is a contributor to an inability to plan. Trying something, even it does not work, often opens doors that would otherwise have remained closed. The key is to keep moving toward the target. Fear is not of God.
- Not prepared to work to achieve the goal. The first 90% of accomplishing your goal is the determination to do it. Once you commit to working on your plan; you want to focus on only those activities connected to the project. Don’t get sidetracked on side issues. Concentrate on the goal.