Planning Ahead

My business partner, Stan, and I do a lot of planning. We try to have a staff meeting every week and plan our marketing and production schedules for the upcoming week and month. Especially now, at this time of year, we look ahead and try to formulate a plan of action, a strategy, for the coming year.

But, by golly, it never fails...life never turns out how you plan. So, these past two years we've learned to plan, yes, but also do it on our knees all the while constantly asking the Lord for His provision and guidance.

Take Joseph. He had plans. He was engaged to a lovely girl. Then she gets pregnant, tells him it's God's baby (ya right!), and then an angel comes and tells him to marry her anyway. So they go to Bethleham and live for two years. It's looking like they may settle there. Then God tells him to flee to Egypt. The least favorite place an Israelite would want to go. After his ancestors spent 400 years of slavery and bondage there. Now, how in the world was he going to survive there and care for his family? They weren't wealthy...how were they going to travel that long distance and settle there with the little money they had?

So, then these Wise Men show up. Hmmm...out of the blue. One day Mary's probably sweeping the floor or maybe making bread, Joseph's off working on a carpentry job...there's a commotion outside, a knock at the door...and all of a sudden Mary and Joseph have "provision." Gold. Frankincense. Myrrh. What are they going to do with all this wealth?

Ah, then Joseph has the dream and is told to flee to Egypt.

So, let's take a look at this. These three Wise Men, these Astrologers, saw The Star at the time Jesus was born. It took them two years to find their way to Jesus. So, God knew His Son needed help and would be in danger from Herod two years before it happened. He knew this little family would need provision long before they had even an inkling that there would be a need in their lives. God set in motion His provision for this family two years before the need came to fruition. Actually, if you think about it, God set the foundations of the universe in motion so that this particular "star" would appear at that precise moment so these astrologers would see it and know it was the star announcing the arrival of a King as told in their prophesies.

So, I'm thinking God plans His provision long before I have the need.
And, I'm thinking God schedules His provision in time to my need.

God knew how Herod would react to the news of a King arriving on the scene. And, these Wise Men arrived at the precise time Mary and Joseph needed to get the heck out of Dodge and needed provision to do it.

My Pastor talked about this last Sunday. God's timing in providing us provision at just the right moment and in His time. Pastor Mark said, "I sure wish He'd show up early,so I wouldn't have to fight the devil, my emotions and my panic." Boy, isn't that the truth.

In this time of reflecting on the past year and PLANNING for the year ahead...be encouraged, be assured, that God knows well in advance what your needs will be and when you will have them. He has set in motion NOW just the right provision for you, arriving at just the perfect time, when you need it most.

God's DayTimer rocks!

Thought: If you've been on your knees a lot lately because of the bottom dropping out of your retirement account or you're struggling to make that car or house payment...don't think your recent prayers are the first God has known about your needs. He knew this bad economy was going to happen and knew you would need provision. Now, surely He wants you to come to Him in prayer and to "participate" in the workings of His provision. But, don't think He's just now figuring out that you need help. Help/Provision is on the way! Trust. Trust. Trust.

Another thought: Joseph had to take his family to a place he probably did not really want to go...Egypt. Do you, perhaps, have to "go" somewhere you don't necessarily want to go in order to be blessed?