Understanding the importance of Planning

Planning is the ability for one to sit down and visualise the future, considering intricately; what should be done, when it should be done, by whom should it be done, how to do it, and why it's important for it to be done.

David Ibiyeomie once said; "Living without planning is playing without knowing."

There is a popular adage often attributed to Benjamin Franklin, the father of time management;

"Failing to plan is planning to fail." 

The above quote may sound like music to your ears, but planning for business analysis work is a key area which tries to zero in on the importance of planning in a software development project.

People who place no value on planning always end up living in pressures.

Planning allows you manage whatever resources you've at your disposal, with the consciousness of the interval before the next one comes.

Borrowing is an indication of disorganisation and inability to plan.

Jesus said in;

Luke  14:

28. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?  

29. Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,  

30. Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Particularly the black race, we don't know how to sit-down and meticulously plan certain details, before setting out in action.

It's only in Africa you find people blaming the devil for things that happened as a result of their negligence.

Stop binding your landlord, plan and organise your life so that you can pay your rent when it's due.

Anybody binding his it her landlord, I loose your landlord now!

Stop binding, go and pay your rent!

You know in January you'll pay school fees, and you'll also need extra cash to sustain yourself and your family, why not wisely ensure you don't spend all during Christmas?

Progress will only be possible when there's high value placed on planning.

Disorganized people always suffer stagnation.

In fact, people who don't plan are usually poor!

Prayer without planning and properly organising your life will not work.

As a matter of fact, God wants every Christian to be an addicted planner.

Sit-down with the Holy Spirit and reason things out, don't just live your life without any form or structure.

Since I was 18years (2013), I've always sat down towards the end of every year, to meticulously plan out the events of the next year, and it's working.

Never end any year without planning for the next year.

You don't have to be too intelligent or smart to succeed.

So far you know how to plan and organise the affairs of your life, you'll always scale New heights.

TOOLS FOR EFFECTIVE PLANNING

1. Thinking

People who don't know how to sit-down alone and spend hours in thinking usually do not know how to plan.

To be able to plan effectively, you must spend time thinking and calculating - sit-down and count the cost carefully, before setting out.

Isaiah  1:18  

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD:....."

2. Write down your thoughts

Any plan not written down is but mere wishes.

No matter how clear it is in your head, make sure you take out time to write it out.

Carefully write down all your thoughts, plans and strategies.

Never call what you've not written down a plan, because it isn't.

3. Plan in order of priorities

You cannot plan well, if you don't have a scale of preference.

Everybody should have an order of priorities that suits your lifestyle and where you're going, then every plan made should be in-line with it.

Don't plan more for pleasures and fun without putting the essentials of your life into deep consideration.

Proverbs  21:17  

He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

Poor people know how to plan for fun and pleasure more than the essentials of their lives, so there always remain poor!

Plan your life!

Don't be deceived, if you don't plan today, you'll suffer the consequences tomorrow.

3 Major Temptations of life to Overcome

Matthew  4:1-11

1. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.  

2. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.  

3. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.  

4. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

5. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,  

6. And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.  

7. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.  

8. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;  

9. And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.  

10. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 

11. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

1. Survival

One of the very first battles we'll have to win as Christians, is the fear of survival. The devil will always confront us with the challenge of survival.

How do you feed? Where will you live? How about your daily needs?

This was the first temptation the devil brought to Jesus Christ in the wilderness. (Matthew 4:3-4).

Usually, when the devil is bringing the temptation of survival, he always presents alternative survival strategies that will conflict with your Faith.

He's seeing how tight things are for you now, so he'll use the current happenings around you to tempt you with survival.

Watch carefully to ensure that you don't fall prey to the survival temptation of Satan.

Look up to God completely, and let the devil know that your survival is domiciled in God's Word.

2. Societal norms

Another very common trick of the devil I've noticed over the years, is what I like to call "generally accepted patterns".

This is a situation in which the devil tries to push you into doing something because everybody else is doing it.

You mustn't compromise to succeed.

Imagine the devil telling Jesus to jump from from a high place to tempt God? (Matthew 4:5-7).

This was because everybody else was tempting God, so he wanted Jesus to do the same.

But thank God our Lord Jesus Christ knew better.

The devil will always show you what everybody else is doing, which is wrong, so that you can be consoled in the fact that though it's wrong, everybody's doing it, so it's fine.

The devil will show you how other ladies are going to club every night, and coming back with lots of cash so easily, so that you too can go.

That everybody's doing it, doesn't make it right; if you do everything they do, you'll doubtless end like them.

3. Easy way out

With the devil, there's always an easy way out.

He'll tell you that, instead of suffering to read, just pay the lecturer and get easy good grades. Instead of being sincere, just lie and deceive everyone, so that you can easily get the contract.

Remember what He told Jesus? Bow to me now, and I'll give you the world. (Matthew 4:8-11).

Rediculous indeed!

The devil will always tempt every believer with these 3 things;

Survival,

Societal norms and

Easy way out or shortcuts.

Beware and guide against it.

Your easy defence is knowledge of God's Word and promises;

1. When the devil comes with survival questions, tell him; God is able to supply all your needs and meet all your heart desires.

Philippians 4:19

Luke 18:29-30

2. When he's showing you societal norms, tell him; I'm living my life in absolute confirmation to God's Word and Standard

Jeremiah 6:6

3. And when he comes to show you an easy way out, tell him; I'm prepared to work things out the right way until I reach success.

Hebrews 10:36

Hebrews 6:12

There's no shortcut to success, this is because nothing works over night.

You require patience, persistence and consistency to hit your target.

Christmas Message

Lord, in this season, help US understand the GREATEST gift You've given US.

The GIFT of Jesus Christ, by whom we're able to enjoy Salvation, Unity and Oneness.

Once a rejected people, now GLORIFIED and accepted by you.

Once without hope and love, now full of Hope and Love.

Once without any comfort, but now with the greatest comforter; our SWEET HOLY SPIRIT.

Thank You Lord for Your Precious Son Jesus Christ; we mark His birth in this season, and after so much reflection, we see what a Blessed Generation we're.

This is a Season of LOVE.

With JOY and Gratitude, we thank God for His Son Jesus Christ, the Head of the Holy Church, and the Holy Body of Christ, one we're PART of.

Merry Christmas Everyone.