The Ultimate Planner

I’m a planner.

While I cannot remember when I first developed this identity, my affinity for planning, having a plan, and keeping a plan has grown significantly over the past few years. I love lists, knowing what’s happening ahead of time, and looking forward to planned events.

Surely, spontaneity is great. And I’m not opposed to having days, weekends, or even weeks without a clear plan. But the big things? Trips, life events…..LIFE itself? Yes. Plan needed.

So, as a Christian attempting to align my hopes and dreams and plans with the will of God, what am I to do?

For years, I’ve been praying to know His will and to know His plan for me. I find myself constantly attempting to discern His will and what next steps He’s placing in front of me.

And this practice is good; it’s necessary. Desiring to choose His will over my own is essential to living the life God has planned for me.

But there’s a danger in this that I’ve realized.

Being the planner I am, a control enthusiast if you will, I want to know what God has planned. And I want to know it NOW. Yesterday would’ve worked, as well.

I become so consumed with running after “The Plan” that I lose sight of “The Planner”. Rather than seeking God first and foremost, I get lost in the chase after His plan. Finally, I hit a wall and have to ask myself, am I seeking His plan, or am I seeking Him? Which do I desire more?

See, there’s a huge difference between the two. In seeking Him, you eventually find His plan for your life. If your focus is Him, He’ll lead you where you need to go. But in seeking the plan, God can become an afterthought.

I’ve been reminded recently of what Jesus asked in John 1:38:

“What are you looking for?”

At the beginning of this new year, I had to let Him ask me that exact question. Have I been seeking our Lord? Or am I looking for something else?

It’s been a difficult transition, thus far, pushing my plan-seeking desires aside and simply focusing on Him. And, yes, I’ve already failed…one month in.

Yet, the change I’ve seen already is drastic. My soul is at peace, more than ever before. When He consumes my life, worry has no place.

And so I ask you: what are you focusing on? Him or His plan? Is it time for change?