Legacy Series: Plan (What Do I Do Next?)

In the last segment of the series, I wrote about the importance of finding your "why?" Once you've discovered "why", the natural progression would then be to ask "how?" How do I move forward, now? What makes a plan good? Is it really all that important? Can I make plans on my own and still glorify God? Now, you may or may not be asking some variation of these questions; in any case, I've got some ideas that may help get us started on our paths. Once you've discovered your 'why', perhaps even before then, the first step is to check your heart. Jesus is an excellent example of who we ought to be in relation to God in regard to our plans. Jesus, God in the flesh, the one man who could literally create whatever he wanted for himself, chose humility and obedience to God and His will. "Therefore", we're told, "God has highly exalted him..."

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:3-11)

I'm gonna take you through a few ideas, all surrounding this idea of "the plan." Not only is it important to have a plan, but there's something to be said for acting properly once you have the plan, and what one might do when they've messed up, or when things don't go according to plan. I want to cover a lot as concisely as possible, so strap in. Let's get back to Christ's humility.

Where's Your Heart in All of This?

This pattern of lower yourself before God, and He will lift you up is seen all throughout Scripture, and it's important to us because it can be all too easy to get in your own way without truly understanding this notion. Let's not confuse the matter, only those who truly submit to God in their hearts will see this pattern come to fruition. It isn't said that one must work their hardest, do everything "right," then look to God for confirmation or assistance when things seem to take a turn. Take a look at Proverbs 16:

The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established... The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." (Proverbs 16:1-3; 16:9)

You might then ask something like, how do I correct my heart?, or, how do I submit to God and go for what I want? One question that I find myself asking a lot these days is how do I know if these plans are selfish or God-honoring?

The nature of your questioning will be strongly guided by the nature of your plans, but there is a piece of advice that will reign true regardless of your plans: pray. Pray all the time or as much as you can. I don't know of any greater way to correct oneself. There's a lot I could say about prayer and how to do it, but I feel that the important matter here is that your thoughts be focused on Christ--as deeply as you can muster, focus on faith in Jesus. It's faith in Jesus that allows us connect with God; it's through faith in Jesus that we might walk in step with the Holy Spirit. And that's the next step in this journey.

A Leap of Faith

Regardless of the nature of your plans, there will be moments in which it will take some faith in order to move forward. It's no small feat planting a church, starting a business, starting a family, or shipping yourself off overseas for missions. It's very possible that, even after days, months, and years spent with God in prayer and planning, we might still feel hesitant in moving forward with what God has given us--and He has indeed given them to us, the plans of the heart belong to man. It's in those moments in which faith and submission come back into play. Ideally, this is a place in which we stay; but, if you're anything like me, it can be easy to take what you've been given and cling to it, grasping at it as though your life depends upon it.

This is what happens in the Parable of the Talents: those who worked faithfully with what they were given were rewarded with splendor, but to the one who clung to what he was given, what he had was taken away. I add that, to one who begins to act on their own accord, without continuously abiding in the Lord, what they've been given may just as quickly fall apart or be taken away. Remember John 15:

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (John 15:4-8)

The most important thing that you could focus your attention to in this entire journey for legacy is Jesus Christ. It's because of him and through him that we have everything we do. He's the bridge between the heavens and the earth, he's the physical representation of God's love for you, and he ought to be the reason for all that we do--every goal, or plan, or decision we make is to be unto Jesus. Now, the aim of this reminder is not to scare, judge, or condemn, but rather to move to encourage. None of us is perfect. God knows that (that's why we have Jesus), and He doesn't necessarily expect perfection, though He deserves it from us. So, how can I manage such an impossible task? I've, hopefully, given you a lot to think about, but there is one more truth to hold onto in this process of planning and action: the Lord, our God, is merciful.

There's Grace-a-plenty, Do Well With It

The Bible is pretty clear about the position "works" has in our lives relative to faith. The most important thing about us--our salvation--is determined not by works, but by grace through faith (see Ephesians 2:8-9). I believe that this is the place that we ought to work from; we need to have internalized the fact that we, as sinners, don't deserve God's grace and favor, but He gives it to us freely--He's paid the price with the blood of His own son. It is out of response to this fact that we ought plan our lives and move forward. This response will look different for each individual; the Lord will convict you of certain things and call you to obey in unique situations, and in my opinion, you'd better obey so as to not abuse this grace. Paul speaks well to this matter in Romans 6 saying, "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?"

One must first understand the weight and severity of the Gospel--our fallen condition, sinful nature, and separation from God, accounted for by the blood of the One who was least deserving of it, that we might be returned to community with our Creator--before they can truly operate from this place of undeserving grace. It's for this reason that I urge you--those who have been saved--when making plans for your life: commit your plans, your work, and your lives to the Lord. After all, as I've reminded you each of the last few weeks: This is a discovery more so than a creation or manifestation of legacy. God created each of us for a specific purpose, He knows what we're meant to leave behind; so if you gain nothing else from this series, remember that fact and place your trust in God. With that: be blessed, seek wisdom, and enjoy.