It’s writing prompt time! If you’re lacking inspiration, motivation, or accountability, I hope this weekly link-up will help! Even five minutes a weeks counts for something, right?
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This week’s Five Minute Friday writing prompt is: DETERMINE
At the beginning of each year, I have a renewed motivation to lay out my plans for the next twelve months.
What do I want to accomplish? How will I reach those goals? What do I want to focus on? How should I spend my time?
As in previous years, this January has been no different. I printed off some blank calendars and started to map out my life, color coding different categories and dreaming about possibilities.
I thought I had it all planned out, when I received an email invitation proposing another opportunity that had not been on my radar for this year. It’s definitely something I would like to do, it just wasn’t in my Master Plan.
Then I remembered: I’m not the one who determines my agenda. The Lord is the One who orders my days.
How many times in Scripture does He remind us that we may set our plans, but He is the One who determines our steps?
While this could come across as frustrating, I actually took comfort in this truth. I don’t have to have it all figured out. All I have to do is submit my heart and hands to Him, and He will direct my path.
He is a good, good Father and He causes good to come from every situation for those who love Him.
If you’re facing uncertainty or a lack of purpose, take heart. God knows exactly what lies ahead for you, He knows how to get you there, and He will sustain you by His mercy and grace.
It’s not bad to have goals and aspirations. But when things don’t go as we planned, we can still trust that they went exactly according to His plan.
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5-Day IG Writing Challenge
Join me and other Hope*Writers
for a 5-Day Instagram Writing Challenge,
happening January 17-21!
Daily one-word writing prompts will be provided.
It will be like a five-day-long Five Minute Friday link-up!
PLUS: One challenge participant will WIN this fabulous prize!
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Join the link-up below, then visit your link-up neighbor to read their post and leave an encouraging comment:Â
I really do not have a plan
that might shape the coming year,
for I’m given now to understand
that I should not be here.
They say that just this past July
I stood at Heaven’s door,
and it looked like I would die,
but God, He knew the score
and sent me back to live again,
something that was not foreseen,
something far beyond my ken,
and I live now the dream
of Him what knows and runs it all
and would not see this sparrow fall.
Excited to see all you do this year! I sense big things and important words are coming!🥰
Thank you, Cindy! You are a blessing!
It’s taken a lot of time for me to understand the value of setting goals (plans) and holding them loosely! That loose hold allows me to keep an open conversation with God about what tweaks, changes, or about-faces HE wants me to do!
Amen, Anita! Such a great perspective.
I too am someone who loves a plan, checklists (and especially checking things off a checklist!), setting goals, etc. I am learning to look for God’s hand in every opportunity that comes my way, no matter how big or small, crazy or impossible it might seem. To not assume everything is an interruption to my plans, but perhaps is a path to something better. Good luck with your projects, and thanks so much for hosting the writing group.
Yes, most of the plans we thought we could start making for this year are on hold now, and all we can do is wait to see where God is determining our next steps!
Yes ma’am. It’s always better to let God have the reins.