Doing all in the name of the Lord (Col. 3:17), even includes the thought processes behind our endeavors. We engage in strategic planning that glorifies God’s name. We plan for His glory not self-promotion.
Start Strategic Planning with Reliance on God
Begin the process with a prayer similar to the psalmist in Psalm 86:11-12.
Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.
Start any kind of planning with reliance on God. In addition to prayer, we rely on Him by learning His ways. God uses His Word to teach us His ways. Therein we find accounts of His faithfulness, the same faithfulness we can count on as we seek to align our plans with His ways. Ask: How do our plans align with doing ministry God’s way?
Such reliance comes when we fear His name. To get to the point of revering Him so His ways become our priority, we need an undivided heart. When we grasp the magnitude of the power and authority even in His name, we realize that we don’t pick and choose when, or which, of His ways to follow. Ask: Do we really believe that His ways are higher and better than ours?
Continue Planning with a Desire to Glorify God’s Name
Sometimes we start out well seeking God’s will in our planning but slowly begin to slack because our focus turns to what we’re doing rather than on Him. We then aim for what’s convenient, easy, or comfortable for us rather than rely on His wisdom and power.
We need to always keep the focus on honoring Him. Ask: Are we able to say, “I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.”? (Ps. 86:12)
Praise Him for the help we find in the name of the Lord (Ps. 124:8). Celebrate His faithfulness in the past with anticipation of what He’ll do now and in the future. Thank Him each step of the way for the wisdom He provides. Give God the credit for an effective planning session. At every turn exclaim, “I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart.” (Ps. 86:12)
Notice how Psalm 86:12 again points to the heart. Effective strategic planning, that which glorifies God’s name, is as much a heart issue as a mental workout. We find God and His ways when we seek with all of our heart (Jer. 29:13). With hearts set on Him, what flows out will be good and right (Prov. 4:23), for His ways and thoughts far exceed anything we could plan (Isa. 55:9). Strategic planning that reflects His character and ways, glorifies His name.
Also see: Resources about the Name of the Lord
All Posts about Strategic Planning:
- Strategic Planning Biblically Defined
- At the Core of Strategic Planning
- Trust God Yet Consult with Others?
- Outcome of Strategic Planning
- A Christ-like Pattern for Strategic Planning
- A Christ-like Perspective in Strategic Planning
- Power Struggles in Planning
- God’s Big Strategic Plan
- More Lessons about Strategic Planning from the Gospel
- Where Prayer Takes Our Strategic Planning
- Where the Holy Spirit Takes Our Strategic Planning
- Help in Forming a Strategic Planning Team
- Test Plans Against God’s Word
- How the Resurrection Affects Strategic Planning
- Strategic Planning That’s Not Rooted in Pride
- Leader Qualities that Positively Affect Strategic Planning
- Lies That Thwart Spiritually Successful Strategic Planning
- Strategic Planning that Glorifies God’s Name