Summer is also a great time to regroup from the prior school year, review accomplishments and reassess the prior year's goals. How was last year? Did you have many rabbit trails that took you away from what the Lord had laid on your heart to do? Maybe you referred to your goals throughout the year and were able to maintain focus and perspective. Maybe His direction was down a difficult road. No matter what last year held, know that He was not surprised by any of it and that as a believer we can be confident that "all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
So, where do we go from here? I would say the first thing should be to seek the Lord through PRAYER. Adore Him for being the One we can turn to for direction and instruction. Confess your weakness and need for Him to lead you. Thank Him for hope, His wisdom and the gift of His word (our primary resource for knowing who He is and what He calls us to do). And finally Seek Him for direction for this coming year.
As the Lord gives you insight through His word, begin PLANNING. Remember to "trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 (emphasis added) Also, "commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." Proverbs 16:3
Finally, begin to PREPARE. We can "go to the ant" in Proverbs 6. "She prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest." Proverbs 6:8 And the woman of Proverbs 31, "looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." Proverbs 31:27 Preparing means to put into action what has been planned; to be ready. The Lord tells us in Ephesians 2:10, "for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." What a GOOD WORK it is to love and teach our children - therefore, PRAY, PLAN and PREPARE so that we may do what He has called us to do.
May this post encourage you to begin with joy, put aside lies of the Master Deceiver and press on, being confident that He has equipped you to do so. In the upcoming days, I plan to post some practical applications of planning and preparing for next year, along with some resources that may be an encouraging "resources" to you.
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