Episode 137: Preparation is Part of the Plan

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If you feel like you are in a season of waiting, maybe it is really a season of preparation. And that preparation is part of God’s plan. Listen in to Episode 137 of Just One Simple Thing to learn how to navigate the preparation so you can get to the other side.

We have the most amazing group of ladies who join us monthly for our Saturday morning Plan & Pray sessions. One of our most faithful members is a mom of 12 kids (yes, 12!!) who, with her husband, is building a ministry to support families with Bible study and parenting resources.

In one of our sessions several months ago, Emmie said she hadn’t done much in the past month to actively build their ministry, but she had spent a lot of time decluttering their home. They thought maybe God was calling them to go on the road in some way to serve people where they are.

They were waiting on direction from the Lord, but in the meantime, were preparing for what may come. As I’ve watched this unfold over the weeks since then, a couple of things have struck me about our conversation that day.

First, a season of waiting becomes productive when you see it as season of preparation.

Sometimes, we view a season of waiting as just sitting on our hands and doing nothing. But I think most times, the season of waiting includes some type of preparation, and it may not make any sense.

Second, preparation makes God's preposterous plans possible.

A family with 12 kids loading up in an RV to do ministry on the road sounds crazy!

But God knows exactly how it can be done, and only a season of preparation could make it possible. That’s not something you can just wake up one morning and do. It takes months of planning and preparing.

Maybe God has given you a huge dream... one you can’t even picture. It’s big and it’s overwhelming and you don’t know how you’ll ever get there.

I promise you that if God has given you that dream, he is also going to prepare you for it. You may not even realize that the hardships you are enduring and the pain you are processing are part of the preparation for His preposterous plan for you.

ACTION STEP

Look at the unexpected things happening in your life right now... especially the ones that may feel like distractions and interruptions that may be putting you in a season of waiting. How could God be using those to prepare you for what’s next?

Emmie’s family is getting a little closer each day to heading off in that RV. I’m excited to see what God does with all of the preparation they’ve been through. If you’d like to follow along on their journey, connect with them at their website.

And if you’d like to be part of our monthly Plan & Pray sessions, join my free Facebook group Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing. That’s where you’ll find all the info and the zoom link the last Saturday of each month.

RESOURCES

Plan & Pray Facebook Group

Jim & Emmie Manor Website

Be sure to subscribe to the NewLetter to receive free resources and podcast updates in your email every Monday.

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How would it feel to close the door on this year and start the new year with fresh confidence?

No matter how it went for you,  you need to say a fond farewell before you can move confidently into a new year.

The Looking Back to Move Forward challenge will help you take stock of the past year, decide what to carry with you into the New Year, and what needs to stay in the past.