We all have life dreams and visions. But many people die not fulfilling their dreams - ministries that never started; books never written; songs never song, etc. This often happens because we fail to plan and make decisions according to God’s will. Some people don’t even plan at all. Every year, many Christians reminisce on the things they want to accomplish; unfortunately, many of us wished the same things last year. The fact is despite all the dreaming, without godly planning and decision making our plans will not be accomplished.

Planning is setting up goals and procedures to reach an objective or a desired result. Essentially, it is plotting the process of getting from one point to the next. Below are three reasons why we must plan.

• For Clarity
  Planning allows us to have a clear mental picture of where we are going. You're able to see the trip in your mind. This allows us to be more focused toward the vision we have. Without it, distractions easily occur. Proverbs 24:27 – Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field, and afterwards build thine house.


• To Count the Cost
  To accomplish dreams, we must know the price. For example, if you believe God has called you to be a full-time missionary, then you will have to pay the price of spending diligent time in prayer and the study of the Bible; not to mention be willing to give up certain comforts to fulfill that call. If we do not know what it takes to reach our goals, we'll never do what it takes. Count the cost. (Luke 14:26 – 31)


• To Make Best Use of Time
  Ephesians 5:16 – Redeeming the time, for the days are evil. Psalms 90:12 – So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. With the multitude of ways we can spend our time, having a plan helps us to focus on what’s important. So, it is crucial that we plan, even non-Christians understand the importance of planning and decision making. However, to be of eternal value, our plans must be according to God's will. To fulfill our life purpose, our decisions must be in line with God's plan. Look what the Bible says about planning outside God's will: In James 4:13-15 we are admonished not to presume on tomorrow, but to submit first to God's will. Luke 12:16-20 tells the story of the rich man who after his crops outgrew his barn, planned to enlarge it, and store away the extra crops; but he died the same night and lost all, including his soul.

How to Plan and Make Decisions Wisely