“Our poor planning leads precisely where we had no intention of going.”

A thought by Andy Stanley, (2009-04-23) from his book, The Best Question Ever (p. 20). The Doubleday Religious Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

I have always had a problem with my weight.  The last three to four months I have seen it slowly go back up to where I didn’t want it to go.  In the last few years I had lost around 50 lbs. but little by little I was gaining it back.  Poor planning was taking me where I didn’t want to go.  So I set up a plan to do something and I have been seeing good results.  But I had to have a plan and to stick to it.

Andy says, “Having watched dozens of people methodically waste their lives, potential, and money, I’ve concluded that while nobody plans to mess up his life, the problem is that few of us plan not to. That is, we don’t put the necessary safeguards in place to ensure a happy ending.”

I have found that not eating anything that has wheat in it makes a big difference for me.  I would do a good job of diet and walking during the week but I would let down on the weekend and undo all I had accomplished during the week.  So Margaret and I made plans to be faithful during the weekend too.  I had gotten to 230 lbs. two weeks ago and today I weighed 220 lbs.  I had to stick to the plan of walking and eating no wheat.  And that is tough to do.  It takes a plan.

The same is true in our finances.  You make a plan that fits what you want to accomplish.  You don’t get your paycheck and then ask yourself “what do I want to do?” you set up a plan.

Andy also says, “If you don’t pay attention, you will end up paying a price for your carelessness.”

Margaret and I this morning talked about this.  She works so very hard but doesn’t get to walk as she used to and it is affecting her health.  She is a diabetic and exercise and a strict diet is imperative in living a full and healthy life.  So we are going to set aside 30 to 45 minutes each night to go and walk together and to walk longer on the weekend.  But “if you don’t pay attention, you will end up paying a price for your carelessness” and “our poor planning leads precisely where we had no intention of going.”

Margaret and I want to live a full life together.  First of all it starts with a total relationship with God and then He gives the responsibility back to us with what we are to do.  And a part of it is in the area of being wise in our health, our finances and our relationship together.  And it won’t just happen.

So where do you need a plan?