Planning for a God-Centered Future Post-Pandemic

 

Summary

In our journey through the book of Nehemiah, we are exploring how to "Build a Better Future" as we emerge from the COVID pandemic. This series is an invitation to not merely return to our pre-pandemic lives but to seize the opportunity to reset and renew our lives in alignment with God's purpose. Today, we delve into the third principle from Nehemiah: the importance of making a plan for our lives.

God is a planner, as evidenced by Jeremiah 29:11, where He declares His plans to prosper us and give us hope. If God, who created us in His image, makes plans, then we too should plan our lives. Without a plan, we risk drifting aimlessly, allowing circumstances to dictate our path. Planning is not just practical; it is a spiritual act of stewardship, acknowledging that our lives are a gift from God, and how we live them is our gift back to Him.

Nehemiah provides a seven-step model for life planning, beginning with prayer. He prayed for God's favor, acknowledging that success comes from God's grace. Next, he prepared for opportunities and waited patiently, understanding that God's timing is perfect. Nehemiah teaches us to expect fear but not to let it paralyze us. Courage is moving forward despite fear, trusting that God is with us.

Setting clear goals is crucial. Nehemiah had a specific target: to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. We must also establish clear, God-sized goals that require His intervention. Alongside setting goals, we must set deadlines, as a dream without a deadline is merely a wish. Anticipating barriers and calculating costs are essential steps in planning, ensuring we are prepared for challenges.

Finally, we must trust God to meet all our needs. Nehemiah's success was attributed to God's gracious favor, not his own cleverness. As we plan, we must remember that while we have a role in praying and planning, God has the final say. Our plans should align with His will, trusting that He will provide the resources needed to fulfill His purpose in our lives.

Key Takeaways:

- God as the Ultimate Planner: Emulating God’s nature as a planner, we are called to plan our lives intentionally. Without a plan, we risk drifting and missing out on the life God intends for us. Planning is an act of stewardship, acknowledging that our lives are a gift from God. [05:08]

- The Power of Prayer and Preparation: Nehemiah’s story teaches us to pray for God’s favor and prepare for opportunities. While waiting on God’s timing, we must actively prepare, ensuring we are ready when opportunities arise. [12:04]

- Courage in the Face of Fear: Nehemiah’s courage to act despite his fear is a powerful lesson. True courage is not the absence of fear but the decision to move forward in faith, trusting God’s presence and guidance. [18:47]

- Setting God-Sized Goals: We are encouraged to set ambitious goals that require God’s intervention. By aligning our goals with God’s will, we honor Him and invite His power into our plans. [23:38]

- Trusting God to Meet Our Needs: Nehemiah’s success was due to God’s favor. As we plan, we must trust God to provide the resources and guidance needed, recognizing that our plans are subject to His sovereign will. [38:25]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:22] - Series Introduction
- [01:01] - Principle One: Dissatisfaction
- [02:12] - Grieving and Fasting
- [02:48] - Principle Two: Internal Change
- [03:23] - Principle Three: Making a Plan
- [05:08] - Why Plan?
- [08:21] - Nehemiah's Seven Steps
- [09:38] - Step One: Pray for Favor
- [12:04] - Step Two: Prepare and Wait
- [15:41] - Step Three: Expect Fear
- [21:44] - Step Four: Establish a Target
- [25:26] - Step Five: Set a Deadline
- [27:15] - Step Six: Anticipate Barriers
- [38:25] - Step Seven: Trust God
- [40:18] - Applying the Principles

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Building a Better Future

Bible Reading:
1. Nehemiah 2:1-9
2. Jeremiah 29:11
3. Proverbs 4:26

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Observation Questions:

1. What specific role did Nehemiah hold in the Persian court, and how did it influence his ability to plan for rebuilding Jerusalem? [01:38]

2. How did Nehemiah's prayer life influence his planning process, and what was the first step he took in his planning according to the sermon? [09:38]

3. What was Nehemiah's specific request to King Artaxerxes, and how did he prepare for this moment? [22:29]

4. How did Nehemiah handle his fear when presenting his request to the king, and what does this reveal about his character? [18:11]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of God as a planner, as seen in Jeremiah 29:11, influence the way believers should approach planning their own lives? [05:08]

2. In what ways does Nehemiah's story illustrate the balance between human planning and divine intervention? How can this balance be applied to modern life planning? [39:04]

3. What does Nehemiah's approach to setting a clear target and establishing a deadline teach about the importance of specificity in goal setting? [23:05]

4. How does Nehemiah's willingness to ask for help from King Artaxerxes demonstrate the importance of community and support in achieving God-sized goals? [33:51]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current life situation. Are there areas where you feel dissatisfied and sense a need for change? How can you begin to plan for a better future in these areas? [01:01]

2. Nehemiah began his planning with prayer. How can you incorporate prayer into your planning process for personal or professional goals? What specific steps will you take to make this a habit? [09:38]

3. Consider a goal you have set for yourself. Is it a God-sized goal that requires divine intervention, or is it something you can achieve on your own? How can you adjust your goals to align more closely with God's will? [23:38]

4. Nehemiah faced fear but moved forward with courage. Identify a fear that is holding you back from pursuing a goal. What steps can you take to move forward despite this fear? [18:47]

5. Nehemiah anticipated barriers and calculated costs. What potential obstacles might you face in achieving your goals, and how can you prepare to overcome them? [27:15]

6. Trusting God to meet our needs was crucial for Nehemiah. In what areas of your life do you need to trust God more fully to provide the resources and guidance you need? [38:25]

7. Nehemiah's success was attributed to God's favor. How can you ensure that your plans are aligned with God's will, and what practices can you implement to seek His guidance regularly? [39:04]

Devotional

Day 1: Emulating God's Intentional Planning
Planning is a spiritual act of stewardship, reflecting God's intentional design for our lives. Without a plan, we risk drifting aimlessly, missing out on the life God intends for us. Nehemiah's story in the Bible illustrates the importance of planning, as he meticulously prepared to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. This act of planning is not just practical but a way to honor God, acknowledging that our lives are a gift from Him. By aligning our plans with God's purpose, we can live intentionally and fulfill the destiny He has set for us. [05:08]

"For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?" (Luke 14:28, ESV)

Reflection: What specific area of your life needs intentional planning to align with God's purpose, and what steps can you take today to begin this process?


Day 2: The Power of Prayerful Preparation
Nehemiah's journey teaches us the significance of prayer and preparation. Before taking action, he prayed for God's favor and prepared for the opportunities that would come his way. This principle emphasizes the importance of waiting on God's timing while actively preparing ourselves for the doors He will open. By doing so, we ensure that we are ready to seize opportunities when they arise, trusting that God is orchestrating events for our good. [12:04]

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to pray for God's favor and prepare for future opportunities? How can you start preparing today?


Day 3: Courage in the Face of Fear
Nehemiah's courage to act despite his fear is a powerful lesson for us. True courage is not the absence of fear but the decision to move forward in faith, trusting in God's presence and guidance. Nehemiah faced significant challenges and opposition, yet he pressed on, knowing that God was with him. This teaches us that fear is a natural part of life, but it should not paralyze us. Instead, we are called to step out in faith, believing that God will lead us through. [18:47]

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9, ESV)

Reflection: What fear is currently holding you back from pursuing God's plan for your life? How can you take a step of faith today, trusting in God's presence?


Day 4: Setting God-Sized Goals
We are encouraged to set ambitious goals that require God's intervention. Nehemiah had a clear target: to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Similarly, we must establish God-sized goals that align with His will, inviting His power into our plans. These goals should stretch our faith and reliance on God, knowing that He is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. By setting such goals, we honor God and demonstrate our trust in His ability to accomplish great things through us. [23:38]

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us." (Ephesians 3:20, ESV)

Reflection: What is one God-sized goal you can set today that requires His intervention? How can you begin to align your actions with this goal?


Day 5: Trusting God to Meet Our Needs
Nehemiah's success was attributed to God's gracious favor, not his own cleverness. As we plan, we must trust God to provide the resources and guidance needed, recognizing that our plans are subject to His sovereign will. This trust is a vital component of our faith journey, acknowledging that while we have a role in praying and planning, God ultimately has the final say. By trusting in His provision, we can move forward with confidence, knowing that He will meet our needs according to His riches in glory. [38:25]

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust God to meet your needs? How can you actively demonstrate this trust in your daily actions?

Quotes


You need to make a plan. If you're gonna build a better future you got to have a plan for your life. You have to have a life plan. You need to write down a simple plan and get starting on "Building a Better Future." Now it's not gonna happen without a plan. If you don't have a plan for a better future in your life you're just gonna coast. And you can't coast into a better you, you can't drift into a better future. It takes intention and it takes planning. [00:03:43]

First, you need to plan your life because God makes plans. Because God makes plans. As Buddy pointed out in his message last time, Jeremiah 29:11 may be one of the most quoted Bible verses at Saddleback Church, we even have a song about it. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Now listen, if God makes plans and he wants us to be like him, then we should make plans too. [00:05:20]

Planning is a matter of stewardship. Your life is God's gift to you. What you do with your life is your gift back to God. And the Bible says this in Ephesians chapter five verse 15 to 17, 11 the Phillips Translation, "Live life with a due sense of responsibility not as those who don't know the meaning of life, but as those who do. Make the best use of your time," you can't do that without a plan. "Don't be vague, but grasp firmly what you know to be the will of the Lord." [00:07:31]

Pray and ask for God's favor. Pray and ask for God's favor on your life. God's favor is God's grace. This is the first thing that Nehemiah does in his life plan. Nehemiah chapter one verse 11 he says this, he prays, "O Lord, please let hear my prayer and listen to the prayers of all your servants who love to honor you." That's all of us. "Give your servant success today." Is it okay to pray for success? Nehemiah did. [00:09:38]

Once you start asking God for wisdom and direction, you know what? He's gonna put eventually an idea in your mind or a burden in your heart. You're gonna look around and you're gonna see something that needs changing. When Nehemiah started praying God gave him a dream, gave him a vision, gave him a burden of seeing his hometown rebuilt and restored. So let me ask you, what needs to be rebuilt in your life? What needs to be restored in your life, in your family, in your job, around you, in your nation, in your city, in your community. [00:11:15]

Expect fear but don't let it stop me. This is the third thing we see in Nehemiah's plan, expect fear but don't let it stop me. Nehemiah says, after four months I get the opportunity to serve some wine to King Artaxerxes. And in verse one and two of Nehemiah two, it says, "When King Artaxerxes was dining, I took the wine to him. Now he had never seen me look so sad before. So he asked, why are you so sad? Your heart must be troubled. And Nehemiah says, that made me very afraid." [00:15:55]

Courage is not the absence of fear, courage is moving ahead in spite of your fear. If you're not afraid, you don't need courage. You'll only have courage when you're scared to death and you do it anyway. Now notice what Nehemiah did with his fears, he did two things. And when you start going after your plan that God gives you, it's gonna be so big it'll scare you to death. And so what do you do with your fear? Number one first he admitted his feelings. [00:18:57]

Establish a clear target. That's the next verse, verse five. Nehemiah 2:5, you establish a clear target. Nehemiah 2:5 says, "After praying I answered, if it pleases your majesty, and if your servant has found favor in your sight then send me to the city in Judah, that's Jerusalem, where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it." Now notice Nehemiah gets very specific here, he wants to establish a goal. He wants to rebuild the wall. [00:21:50]

Set a deadline. Nehemiah 2:6, "Then the King with the queen sitting beside him." Why Nehemiah I mentioned that I don't know, but maybe it's because she had a little impact or a little input on her husband. "The King with the queen sitting beside him asked how long will your work take? And when will you get back?" This is a legitimate question. Yeah I'm gonna loan my top guy to go to a project. "Now the King was willing to send me," Nehemiah says, "so," underline this, circle it. "I set a time." [00:25:14]

Anticipate the barriers that I'll face. Anticipate the barriers that I'll face. Nehemiah 2:7 and 8. He says, "Then I asked the king to give me," listen to this 'cause he's already thought through what the barriers are gonna be. Nehemiah says, "Then I asked the king to give me letters for the governors of all the territories west of the Euphrates River." That's stuff he's gonna have to travel through to get back there to Israel. "Give me letters of passage for the governors of the territories west of the Euphrates River, giving me safe, travel to Judah." [00:27:38]

Trust God to meet all my needs. When you're writing out this life plan trust God to meet all the needs. You think I don't have that? How could I ever do this plan I don't have what I need. Nehemiah 2:7 and 8 says this, Nehemiah says, "Because God's gracious favor was on me. The king gave me everything I asked for." "Notice he gives God the credit. And Nehemiah gives God all the credit, remember this is autobiographical. [00:38:20]

We may make our plans, but God has the last word." Have I ever had plans that didn't turn out the way I planned? Yeah over and over and over, why? 'Cause I missed it. We're human beings we don't always get the right plan. Your plan isn't infallible. My plan isn't infallible. We can make our plans and God tells us to make our plans, but God has the last word. And so if my plan don't happen in my time or in my way I just go, God, I trust your plan better than mine. [00:39:28]

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Transcript
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