How to Maintain Focus on What Matters Most. A few years ago, I read a blog post by Michael Hyatt on the importance of creating a life plan. Making a life plan is not intended to try to play god or to squeeze Christ out of being Lord over your life; it’s a way to cooperate with Him to successfully manage the relationships, duties, and finances that He has entrusted to you. Although making a life plan is very simple, few people commit time to plan their life, but it’s truly a valuable investment. Here’s how to make one: Michael Hyatt recommends taking one full day to create your life plan. With my work, family, and other responsibilities, I couldn’t disappear for a full day. Instead, I woke up early each morning for two weeks and spent 30-45 minutes each day working on it. The result was a five-page life plan that gave me a renewed sense of clarity and purpose. My eight priorities that emerged from the exercise were: 1.God 2.Self 3.My Wife 4.My Children 5.Family & Friends 6.Career 7.Finances 8.Ministry As an example, here is a condensed version of the details for my first priority. Priority 1: God Envisioned Future: I am intimately connected with God and His purposes for my life. I seek His wisdom daily and walk in the power of His Spirit living in me. I faithfully pursue my calling and frequently see evidence of my efforts being multiplied by His providential hand. I am being transformed daily to be more like Christ. His joy is evident in all circumstances I face. His power is changing me and the lives of those around me. Purpose Statement: My purpose is to love Jesus the way that He has loved me and share that love with others. I want to spend significant time in God’s presence and hold the door open wide so that others may experience God. Supporting Verse: “I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” Psalm 84:10-11. Current Reality: •I feel very connected to God & His purposes. •I feel content and secure in His love. •I am doing significant work for the Kingdom – loving my wife, children, family and friends, leading my family, writing, and speaking. •I am reading the Bible and praying regularly. Specific Commitments: •Start my day with Bible reading. Goal: Finish Chronological Bible this year •Listen to 1 sermon / week during commute. Goal: 52 sermons •Pray regularly, during daily commute, at meals, with my wife and kids. •Develop a prayer list. Pray regularly and intentionally for people and situations. Then, record how God answers these requests. I keep this document on my computer and review it regularly. Every six months, I block out an hour to update it. This process has been extremely valuable. It serves as a great reminder of what’s truly important and allows me to track progress in each area over time. Proverbs 29:18 reminds us that, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Are you focused on pursuing God’s vision for your life? Do you have a plan in place to discover His vision for you? If not, let me encourage you to start by making a life plan. The above concept is simple but powerful: 1.Identify your priorities. 2.Envision your desired outcome. 3.Understand the purpose behind each priority. 4.Recognize your current reality. 5.Determine specific commitments to reach the envisioned future. Here are a few great resources to get you going: Creating Your Personal Life Plan by Michael Hyatt. You can download the free guide to writing your life plan. Blueprint for Life Book by Michael Kendrick. This book is a great read that will guide you to discover God’s blueprint for your life. Blueprint for Life Study. Although discovering your purpose is a personal pursuit, inviting others into this process can be extremely valuable. This guide can be used for individual or group study and will lead you step-by-step through the process.
Posted on: Mon, 05 Aug 2013 14:14:21 +0000
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