Planning
It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon. "And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine." (Genesis 41:28-36 NIV)
Joseph told Pharoah God's interpretation of the ruler's dreams. But he didn't stop there. He went on to give Pharoah a plan to deal with the future God had revealed to him. He put together a practical implementation of the spiritual insight he had been given.
Many people hate planning. Making a list of "to do's", setting out a logical course of action - these things are boring. They want action. They want to do what they call "stepping out on faith", which is, many times, a headlong run into situations where "fools rush in and angels fear to tread". What they fail to see is that planning is important. Organization is essential to efficient implementation. A disorganized, hap-hazard approach is usually an excellent formula for disaster.
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As a Christian, you want to be more like God, right? If that's true, then you are bound to want to be organized, to be a planner. Because our God is an organized being. And He is definitely a planner. You can't look at His creation without seeing the infinite detail of its organization. You can't read His Word without understanding His impeccable planning.
Granted, not everyone can be a list maker. Not everyone can be totally organized in all areas of life. But if you have a goal, if you have a direction in which you believe God is sending you, before you step out, think it through. Make some plans. Organize your effort enough to know if and when you get off track. Know enough about what your plans are to recognize roadblocks when you run into them. Even the loosest of plans is better than none at all.
From Newsong Ministries
Used with permission.
