Becoming You – Developing a Plan

(Before we get started in today’s lesson, you may have noticed that we spent 2 lessons in The Battlefield of the Mind. I wanted to be sure we lay the foundation for where we are going, so we really look at where we are in light of where we are called to go and understand the battle that is trying to prevent us from getting there. Hope you sweet friends didn’t mind double dipping! 🙂 )

This past weekend, I situated myself in behind the steering wheel of my car and began a journey to nowhere. I just kept driving without knowing where I was going. At times the view was great and I had a lot of fun, but most of the time I just kept going  even though it was a random ride with no destination in mind.

Just kidding! Does that even sound like it makes sense? Why would I get in my car and begin driving if I hadn’t determined a destination yet? Would it make any sense at all for me to start driving if I didn’t know where I was going and how I was going to get there?

Of course not! Yet that’s how we often live our lives.

In today’s lesson, we are reminded how important it is to have a plan…especially when we are dealing with the battle field of the mind. And while the book covers the need to have a Scripture memory plan in place to counter the onslaught artillery being wielded our way, I’d like to use this post as an opportunity to place your life under the microscope of where you believe God is leading you and how you plan on getting there.

If you don’t begin your journey with a plan, you will end up in the middle of nowhere…just like my random ride in the car.

I love the way Proverbs 4:25-27 reads in the NLT… 

Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.”

Check out the verbs in this power-packed passage of Scripture:

LookFixMark out – StayKeep – and in the journey…don’t get sidetracked!


Would you say that describes how you are living your life?


Look at the oh-so-familiar verses, Proverbs 3:5-6 in the NLT…

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

As you consider where you are going you must first place your plans through the filter of prayer. If you’re like me at all, you want to do everything! Almost every direction I turn I find a great need that my heart is tugged to meet. And ideas! Oh wow! The ideas run rampant! So many ways I want to help, so many ministries to be involved in, so many opportunities to make a difference!

But God doesn’t call us to everything. He always calls us to at least one thing. He sometimes calls us to a few things. But He never calls us to everything.

That’s a hard lesson for a girl who visions big, wants to change the world, share the Gospel with every living soul on the planet and comfort every hurting heart!

So, as you examine your life…where you’ve been…what you’ve been through (the good, the bad and the ugly)…where you are now…and where you believe God is calling you, begin to seek the face of God for the future of the days you are given under the sun.

He may give you the big picture – or He may only give you the next step. But you can rest assured that God is not in heaven hiding His plans for your life behind a cloud…He will show you the path to take if you will spend some time seeking His face.

As you seek God’s will for your tomorrow’s, I’d like to offer you some “Prayer Closet”paraphernalia:

  1. A Bible – your best source of instruction and the tool the Holy Spirit uses most to speak to your heart.
  2. A Notebook and Pen – journaling your way through the Word as the Lord speaks to your heart will help you begin connecting the dots on the map of your life. Use this notebook as your game plan. Chart a course to make your destination a reality instead of just a dream. EXAMPLE: If God is leading you to become a nurse, you need to begin the educational process – so check into classes and scholarships. Look for ways you can educate yourself on the process and on how you can minister to others as a nurse.
  3. A Calendar – your future roadmap is defined in days and times, so while you’re praying you will want to begin plotting out a path of events that will get you from who you are to who you were created to be.
  4. A Bible Study Book – Others often speak truths into our lives and hone in on biblical principles that focus on our futures. Two books I recommend are Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby and In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson.
  5. A Timer – Yeah. Weird, I know. But your future is worth more than a few minutes of pinball-type prayers randomly conveyed to the Living God. Set your timer for a minimum of 30 minutes and spend some time in focused prayer and you’ll be amazed how focused your life will become.

So, there you have it… a plan to begin your journey to becoming who you were created to be. The verses you plan on memorizing from your study in the book will help you defeat the enemy’s assaults, and your own fears, failures and faults. They are absolutely a very necessary part of your journey.

But this will help you begin to navigate your days with direction instead of mindlessly heading nowhere. Your verses combined with your prayerful plan of action will help you make progress in your salmon-like journey to becoming who you were created to be.

When you implement these strategies you will become focused on a future that falls in line with your God-given destiny instead of allowing the dailies to distract you from your future.

I’d love to hear from you, sweet friend! Is anything in this study helping you in your journey? Do you already have a plan in place? How will implementing these ideas prevent you from allowing your life to become derailed?

4 Comments

  1. Love this study for today! Yes we as women do want to do everything don't we? Not only do I have a calendar for my every day tasks but I do try and write down various things I want to accomplish for the Lord during my week. I am saddened to say that I fail in that area many times. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

  2. Cindy ~ I think we've worn ourselves out trying to be all and do all! I used to carry a calendar everywhere I went, but when we went to the mission field I wasn't able to, so I got out of the habit. But having a list for everything is SO helpful and such a times saver!

    Love ya, my friend!

  3. This is so me! I was reading this and it so applies to my life right now and you sound so much like me – wanting to do everything and coming up with new ideas all the time! I would love to stay in contact if you don't mind?

  4. Gillian,

    We sound like two peas in a pod. My mind is constantly thinking of talks to speak on, books and articles to write and ministry ideas to implement. I wear my little ol' self out!

    I'd love to stay in touch!

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