I know too many people who are great procrastinators. I know so many because I am one myself!! As many college students do, I perfected the art of last minute papers. One time, I thought I had another week for a 25-page research paper, when it was due the next day. I’m not proud of it, but I finished the entire paper, start to finish, in 11 hours. The sad thing is, I got a B+ on the paper. Yes, at the time I was excited! What makes me so upset now is knowing that I could have done much better. Yeah, that’s the kind of thing parents say, I heard it from them many, many times! But it’s true.

What I failed to realize were the parallels to my ministry and spiritual life. When I procrastinate, I try planning an event at the last minute. Or compile the small group lesson together just a couple hours before hand. I sit down to read and have my daily time with the Lord, but a million things come to mind that I must get done. I delay what is necessary for what is good. Often good things present themselves and I take time to get them done. Doing the dishes, laundry, calling a friend I haven’t talked to in a while, etc. are all good things; but are they necessary at that moment? I have noticed when I allow good things to interrupt what is necessary, they have an extremely negative impact on my ministry and my spiritual life. And they do yours too.

There will always be those who argue that we quench the Spirit when we plan, suggesting that planning confines the Spirit of God. If this is true, if my plans limit God, that must mean I am over God. I fully believe God works more through planning, not less. Planning is not only Biblical, but God-like. 1 Peter 1:20 tells us that before the foundations of the world, Jesus would pay the price for our sin. This shows me two things: 1, God knew what would happen and 2, God had a plan.

Planning is something we all struggle with to some degree, but it has more of an impact in the spiritual realm than we realize. Jesus points out in Luke how if one wants to build a tower, he first considers the cost. He plans. No builder begins without a blueprint, a plan, of what he is building. It is even more crucial in our spiritual life.

I’m guessing most of you keep a calendar of some kind. On your phone or on your computer, or some may even be in the dark ages with paper and pencil, but most people do have some kind of calendar. Here’s what I challenge you to try. The most successful people plan in significant detail the majority of their day. They designate time in the beginning of their morning and plan out their day. I want to challenge you to do the same. Write out hour by hour what you will do. As general or as specific as you like, but write it out.

It is not good enough just to plan, we must also have the discipline to follow through with our schedule. Once we write out our day, we must try to the best of our ability to stick with it. Anything that comes up goes on the schedule for tomorrow. Things may come up you must address immediately, they are the exception, not the rule.

We must remain flexible. This gives us a framework for our day, but there will be times God changes them a bit. Proverbs says a man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. It is important to plan. Plan our quiet time, study time, family time, and the necessary aspects of our life. We cannot sacrifice the necessary for the good. Sometimes things come up. Sometimes we have to change our plans. And that’s OK!

Plan each day for a week or two in as much detail as possible. Let me know how it goes!!