Dear Friends

I wonder how are you at planning?  I guess the answers to that will be wide-ranging.  Some of us like to be very planned and organised in all areas of our lives whilst others like to “go with the flow” and see what happens!  I reckon, however, that when it comes to something that we really want or value, most of us will put in a fair amount of planning in order to get what we want.  Take holidays for an example. At this time of year, many of us are making some sort of holiday plans, which may well involve choosing dates and a destination, making a booking, planning what to take, planning how we want our bodies to look whilst on holiday (usually thinner and firmer!).  Holidays are important and we will usually invest the time and effort to ensure that we enjoy them to the max.

The reason I ask is that last week I heard someone asking the question “how do you plan your Spiritual growth?”, and I realised that although I consider that Spiritual growth is important to me, I cannot say that I have a cohesive plan.  I know that it is God’s plan and purpose for me to bring me to maturity and to conform me to the image of his Son (Romans 8:29).  I know that the good work he has begun in me he will carry on to completion (Phil 1:6).  I also know, however, that Paul urges us to “put off our old self” and to “put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph 4:24), and that this requires action on our part.  The question is “what am I putting in place in my own life to allow God to work in me and change me?” I’m not saying that we all have to have an “i”- dotted “t”- crossed plan for the next five years, but I do believe it is worth asking ourselves the question “How am I going to grow?”, or “Where are the areas in my life that need attention?”, and to start putting things in place that will help to bring about change.  That might be putting in new disciplines in our devotional life or making plans to read and study more.  It might mean making changes in our lifestyle, in our relationships or even our career if we believe these are holding us back from becoming who God wants us to be.  It might mean taking that step of obedience that God has been quietly asking of us.  It might mean stepping out of our comfort zone into a new area of service.  

As we move further into 2014 and we make plans for the future, let me encourage you to consider what plans you need to put in place that will deepen your relationship with God, increase your understanding of who he is and who you are in him, and help to bring about the transformation we all need to bring us to completeness in Christ.  This is living life on purpose.

Love and Blessings

Jon