Someone was recently asked about his plans for next year. He answered, “The year is in God’s hands. I’m just trusting God.” That ended the discussion. It left me wondering, have believers made faith an excuse for not planning?
Friend, faith is not an enemy of planning. In Pentecostal circles, we often mistake planning for unbelief. That is wrong. True faith actually plans. If you expect nothing, you plan for nothing. But many want results without preparation (2 Kings 4:3, James 2:18).
It is true that we must not plan God out of our lives. But we must also not limit God by refusing to plan (Proverbs 16:3). The man who plans will see more of God’s hand at work. Planning puts you in position for opportunity. Faith makes it possible. Planning makes you ready (2 Chronicles 27:6).
We must pray as if everything depends on prayer and plan as if everything depends on planning (Luke 14:28-33). Balancing faith and planning is Christian maturity. Before multiplying bread, Jesus asked, “What do you have?” and ordered the crowd in fifties. Miracles often follow planning (Luke 9:14).
If Noah built the ark by faith, then faith includes planning (Hebrews 11:7). He didn’t wait for the ark to appear. He drew the plan, measured the wood, and went to work. Moses also built the tabernacle according to pattern and enlisted Bezalel and Aholiab to help (Exodus 25:40, 31:1-6).
Any faith that pushes all responsibility to God is irresponsible faith (Mark 2:5). How responsible is your faith? Some plan not pray. Others only pray. Kingdom people plan prayerfully. They engage God in prayer for inspired thoughts, put pen to paper, and write the vision. That is faith at work (Habakkuk 2:1-4).
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria
