One incredible thing I’m learning over and over again on the Race is how to let my plans go and give the plans of my day/ my long term plans to the Father. (NOTE: This is a process that I am learning over and over and over again, and it’s a great lesson to learn multiple times. Each time I re learn this lesson, I’m very blessed to gain more knowledge than I did before.)
I don’t know if I’ll ever understand why we humans make so many plans, but we do.
We can’t help it. We LOVE to know (or to guess rather,) what’s next.
Whether it’s “big” or “little” we plan. For example, we
– call our friends and arrange a dinner date,
– plan out our mornings (wake up, eat breakfast, check email etc…)
– go to seminars and learn how to make 5 year plans,
– plan what we’ll be wearing to a social event.
What do you think would happen if you didn’t plan, but instead, let go of your plans, gave them to the Lord, asked Him to plan the day and your life for you, then wait on Him for His response?
I’ve been learning that letting go of things isn’t NOT planning, it’s just the act of taking your clenched fingers off of your desires, your dreams and your longings, opening up your hands and heart, and allowing God to take the desires, dreams and longings He’s put inside of you and work in them and through them for the development and expansion of His kingdom.
For example, last month whilst I was in Nicaragua, the Lord presented many opportunities for me to let go of my plans for the day and let Him give me His best plan. Many, many, MANY times this month, as I thought things were going to happen one way, they didn’t.
I thought I was going to hang out with certain people or certain groups of people on certain days.
I didn’t.
I thought I was going to teach on certain days.
I didn’t.
I thought I was going to do certain things during my free time and Team Times.
I didn’t.
Through these times of giving up my plans, I began to re learn how to use the self control the Lord has given me to control my emotions, then acknowledge God’s wisdom and His Sovereignty, TRUST HIM, and acknowledge that He’s got control of it all, and He’s got the best planned for me.
I met a young woman from one of the teams that stayed at El Ayudante. When I asked her, “ How do you stay present?” She told me, “I ask God for direction to do “the next right thing. I go through my day moment by moment, asking the Lord what to do, and I’m constantly seeking guidance, listen, then trust that what I’m doing is the right thing, and I do it with Joy and Love in her heart because I TRUST.
What a great pattern to get into:
Wait.
Listen.
Respond.
Trust.
Letting go of your plans is hard.
Letting go of your plans is tough.
Letting go of your plans is frustrating.
Letting go of your plans is…..GOOD.
I challenge you, give “letting go” a shot.
