Prayerful Planning Brings Peace

A new year now stretches ahead of us. A year of infinite possibilities. A year of new hopes and dreams. A year of new resolve to change things in our lives for the better. A year to "turn over that new leaf."

With the new year comes new choices. As we open up our new plan books or check our calendars we will see that we have precious seconds, minutes, hours, and days to fill. All of those white empty pages can fill you with excitement over all the possibilities. Along with that should also have a feeling of great responsibility. It is up to YOU how you plan each minute. It is up to YOU how you spend each hour. It is up to YOU how you fill in those blanks.

I would like to suggest to you that before you take pen in hand you go to the Lord in prayer. Ask him to show you how he wants you to spend those precious minutes. Ask him to guide you and give you the strength to prioritize in a way that would be pleasing to him. Ask him to open up your eyes and heart to what is really important.

Please don't spend another year running back and forth to endless committee meetings and social events. Instead of having your children participate in countless "play dates" you can spend that time actually playing with your child. What about the "responsibilities" that constantly take you away from home at night or the "responsibilities" during the day that have made you become close personal friends with Ronald McDonald? Are you tired of being tired? Are you tired of feeling frazzled? Are you tired of feeling like you never have time with your husband and children? Are you tired of feeling like you never get anything done around your home? I am here to tell you right now that you do HAVE A CHOICE! It is okay to say NO! The world will not stop spinning if you do, I promise! Go to the Lord in prayer and have him show you what is really important and what is not. Now is the time to seek his guidance concerning your priorities so you that can reevaluate what you deem as being important.

We can't worry about what The Jones' next door are doing. The only thing we need to worry about is what WE are doing. There is no point in trying to keep up with them because, guess what? You never will be able to! Don't worry about your friend who is President of this and Treasurer of that. Don't compare yourself to her either. You might think she is a "supermom" but I'm here to tell you there is NO SUCH A THING. I can almost guarantee that if she is involved in every possible activity outside the home then something is being neglected on the inside. The only thing you need to worry about is YOU! Concentrate your time, talents, and efforts in the things that the Lord has taught us are to be of the utmost importance, HIM, OUR SPOUSES, OUR CHILDREN, AND SERVING OTHERS. When you follow THAT plan (his plan) you will know what true peace and joy is.

So, before you open up that brand new plan book, PRAY. Before you fill in that calendar, PRAY. PRAY for guidance, PRAY for clarity, PRAY for wisdom, and most of all PRAY that you will make the year 2007 a year that is pleasing to him. You will be so glad you did!