Stick to the Plan
I don’t like having to change my meal plan just because I’ve forgotten an item.
Reference: v.9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. (TNIV Bible)
Explore: I like to be prepared. It’s not just about being a control-freak, but wanting to make the most of every situation.
If I am cooking dinner for friends then I make sure I have the whole menu sorted out extra early so I have all the ingredients in the house before I start preparing the meal. I don’t like having to change my meal plan just because I’ve forgotten an item.
Now we have young boys, it seems that even my extreme planning has had to go up a notch. Before we leave the house it seems I’m packing enough food and clothes to provide for the whole city!
It would be safe to say that I’m not incredibly spontaneous and I’m learning that I don’t really like surprises, however, I’m rarely left stranded without all the items I need for the present occasion.
Application: When I read about how Jesus sent His disciples out to preach and heal the people, I notice that it goes against all my organisational predisposition. These guys were heading out for a significant period of time and Jesus tells them not to even bother taking a spare shirt!
I know that if Jesus had have said this to me, I would have been curled up in a foetal position in the corner thinking through all the scenarios of how this mission could go horribly wrong.
And yet, I can learn a great deal from this first mission trip that Jesus commands. He was not asking the disciples to be slack by not preparing, He was asking them to rely on God for all their needs.
I can be very helpful and useful when I plan, and yet, there are some things that even I can’t prepare for. I never know when someone might need a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen to them, or a word to encourage them.
That’s when my dependence on God needs to supersede my organised plan. I don’t think Jesus would mind me being prepared, as long as I am open to loving Him and loving others whenever the need arises.
Prayer: Lord, sometimes I am so overly organised that I don’t give You space to impact my life. May I be willing to go where You send me, no matter what the journey may cost me. Amen.
Where do you feel Jesus is sending you?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.
1 comment:
Linda, I used to be like you! I would have lists for nearly everything I had to do and methodically ticked off each item as I went. My plans begin to fall through a long time ago and now there are no lists, not even for the most important things. After losing our business, our house and my health I now have to trust in the Lord that he has a plan for us – it’s all I have left. Thank you for your thoughts.