If you’ve ever spent any time talking to me, you’ll know that I am a major planner. To-do lists, calendars, and schedules shape how I live my life. But lately, I’ve been wondering: *Should* we plan at all?
On one hand, we resemble the Maker who created the world with a six-day blueprint. We share a likeness with Him who “planned from days of old what now I bring to pass” (2 Kings 19:25), and act like Him who always moves according to a “definite plan” (Acts 2:23). As planners, we reflect the image of a planning God.
But on the other hand, is there a risk that our planning could go too far? Sometimes, we plan as if we were in control of everything, as if life wasn’t uncertain. In our desire for control, we often fail to say, “If the Lord wills…” (James 4:15). So, how do we balance our innate desire to plan with the unpredictability of life and the sovereignty of God?
1. Plan with humility.
When we plan, whether for next week or next year, we project our hopes into the future. We imagine what tomorrow holds and chart a course to get there. But as James reminds us, we “do not know what tomorrow will bring” (James 4:14). We are like mist, here one moment and gone the next.
Humility doesn’t mean we stop planning, but it reframes how we do it. We realize our plans are like sketches, subject to God’s eraser. We plan, yes—but with the mindset that our plans are fragile and contingent on God’s will. Every to-do list and calendar entry should be marked with a quiet “If the Lord wills.”
2. Plan prayerfully.
Sometimes, planning can be an exercise in pride. We rely on our own reasoning, crafting pro-con lists without ever asking for divine guidance. Yet, planning that truly honors God is saturated with prayer. We should invite God into every aspect of our planning, seeking His wisdom to discern what is truly best.
Paul’s prayer in Philippians 1:9-10 is a helpful model: he prays that love may abound with “knowledge and all discernment” so that we can approve what is excellent. As we plan, we need more than common sense—we need Spirit-filled discernment to guide us to what is best.
3. Plan with worship at the centre.
After we’ve made our plans, how do we keep from taking them too seriously? We do so by keeping worship at the heart of everything. At the top of all our to-do lists, the first priority must be our relationship with God. What does my Bible reading look like this year? When and where will I pray? How will I stay connected to my church family? When we prioritize worship, we keep our plans in perspective, and God’s providence—not our agenda—guides us.
4. Dream with courage.
Should we be bold in our planning? Yes, but with caution. Like Paul, who outlined long-range plans to travel across multiple regions (Romans 15:24-26), we can craft audacious plans, knowing that some good works require long-term vision. Global missions, starting a business, or raising a family are all endeavors that reach far beyond today’s calendar. Yet even in our boldest dreams, we must hold them loosely, ready for God to redirect them according to His will. We are dreamers, but always dreamers under God’s authority.
5. Submit to God’s plans.
The ultimate test of a planner’s heart comes when our plans don’t unfold as we envisioned. “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand” (Proverbs 19:21). When our plans fall apart, it’s an opportunity to embrace the fact that we are sub-planners, operating under God’s greater plan.
Paul may have never made it to Spain, just as some of our most ambitious plans may never materialize. But even in those moments, we can trust that God is working all things together for good (Romans 8:28). Our failed plans remind us to pray, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”
So, should we plan? Yes, but we must do so with humility, prayer, worship, courage, and submission to God’s will.
