Planner Praying

Technology can be an amazing gift but there is one thing that I just can’t seem to take into the digital world….my planner. There is something about seeing each week in front of me and handwriting dates, activities, meal plans and “to dos” on the blank spaces. It seems to help the information stick, or at least that is what I keep telling myself. Either way, a physical planner is something you will often find in my hands, in my purse, or pulled out when I’m at a meeting. 

Whether you have an actual hard copy planner (I would highly recommend the Moleskine Smart Planner!) or you use your phone or other digital device, would you join me in taking a few minutes to pray before filling in dates and gearing up for the year ahead. Pray for the events that we already know will take place this year and for events that are unknown to us but known to the Lord. We know not what our Shepherd has in store, both the valleys and the heights, but we know He is good and that enables our hearts to find rest in Him and in His steadfast faithfulness, come what may. 

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” Proverbs 19:21 

Then, thank the Lord and pray for the people that are in your life right now, those who will often be found woven into the pattern of your day and schedule. Pray for joy in these relationships, for wisdom in your interactions, for a heart of encouragement, and for growth in their lives or God’s salvation to grab hold of them. 

“We are not responsible to God for the soul that is saved, but we are responsible for the Gospel that is preached, and for the way in which we preach it.”  Charles Spurgeon

And, of course, let’s pray for our own precious family. These relationships are ours for better or worse and require constant care and attention to bloom and grow. God has specifically given us our spouse, our children, our parents, our siblings, and all our in-laws. To wish for “different” is to question God’s sovereign design and plan to glorify Himself and grow us into His image. These relationships give innumerable opportunities to extend the grace that we have received, to grow in self-sacrifice, and to love with Christ’s love. All of which is impossible in our own strength but beautiful and flourishing in His!  Wherever our families are at, may we all give thanks for the days He has given us, the laughter and the tears, even as we pray for hearts of wisdom that seek to “number the days” that are before us. 

At church yesterday morning, the worship leader read a portion of Psalm 90 and I thought it was a beautiful psalm to start the new year with and to write a couple of the verses in the beginning pages of my planner:

“Teach us to number our days carefully that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.” (vs. 12)

“Satisfy us in the morning with your faithful love so that we may shout with joy and be glad all our days.” (vs. 14)

Whether your 2020 planner is already full of dates, activities and plans or its pages are still primarily white, may we all pursue the wisdom that comes from above by daily finding our satisfaction in Christ and the Words of Life He has given to us in the Bible. And may we continue to walk in prayerful dependence, so that we would be known as those whose days are filled with joy and gladness!

“Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful song.”  Psalm 100:2