As I moved into the fall season this year, I began to pray in detail over each area that needs to be completed by Christmas. In my recent reading of our pastor’s sermon on Nehemiah, I rediscovered some principles for planning and preparation.
First priority: we don't do anything until we
take it to the Lord in prayer.
God often waits to answer until we ask Him in
prayer (James 4:2).
Trust God. God can do what we cannot.
Always give God recognition first—gratitude for
what He'll do.
Ask: “In what small way do You want me to
accomplish something in Your kingdom?”
Launch yourself in God's direction and do what God calls you to do.
The important key in light of this blog post is to keep my eyes focused on the Lord and His purpose and plans in what Matt Bell called “art life and lived life.”[i]
Art Life:
My overall writing goal is to continue building a larger body of work.
Finish draft of my second book. Continue engagement with InScribe—local writers’ group, write for monthly IWO, quarterly FS. Marketing/advertising for my first book—other authors have been great examples, and I’m receiving prompts from the Lord.
Lived Life:
· House and garden. Complete fall garden work—planting any spring flowers/bulbs, cleanup by end of October when the ground freezes. Winter—focus on house tasks of sorting, organizing clutter, recycling extras, (continuous throughout winter)—I’ve asked the Lord to confirm the upgrading needs in my house. Work towards order.
· Relationships. Spend more time contacting others. Continue relationship with the Lord through continued Bible study, prayer. (The Lord brings so many ideas for writing through my time with Him.)
· Ministry areas. Continue volunteering at church. Lead monthly local writers’ group. Participate in our InScribe local group’s November 20 event, “Invitation to Wonder”.
· Contingency plans. Allow for unexpected events, emergencies, or health issues that may upend any plans.
· Relaxation. Attend monthly Christian Women’s Breakfasts (weather permitting). Enjoy my yard and garden. Walk. Read. Slot in weekly artist’s dates (to engage the senses—drive into the country, take photos, visit a friend, etc). Discover and journal a daily highlight.
· Celebrations with gratitude. Honour accomplishments, both small and major. Honour the Lord in all I do.
Some items
in this list can look daunting. The Lord knows what plans are feasible and will
guide me. This reading from In Touch Ministries challenged me:
“Following God often takes us through unfamiliar territory, but He is faithful to lead us into His good plans…When God challenges us beyond our self-determined limits, He isn’t testing us—He’s inviting us into a higher level of trust…Each new step of surrender is an opportunity to experience His faithfulness in ways we haven’t yet imagined.”[ii]
I conclude with a quote from Ezra which challenges all of us: “I took courage, for the hand of the LORD my God was on me” (Ezra 7:28 ESV).
[i] Matt Bell, (Refuse to be Done, NY: Soho Press, 2022), 27-31.
[ii] https://www.intouchcanada.org/read/daily-devotions#:~:text=Growing%20in%20Trust,September%207%2C%202026
Sandi Somers’ writing passion is to help readers grow their faith in Jesus, including their vision of what God wants them to be and do. She writes of her love of nature, gardening, travel, and family in several genres—devotionals, personal essays, and Biblical fiction. Sandi lives in Calgary, Alberta, the delightful city between the Rocky Mountains and the Prairies.
Thank you, Sandi, for this thoughtful post on planning. I do love your overall writing goal; it's concise and flexible. I may borrow that for myself. May you find God's sufficient grace in every area of your life.
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