Most of us have been in planning meetings or planned things for ourselves. We understand that planning is important. Sadly, even evil men and women spend time planning to do evil. But, what if we could make another kind of plan, a plan to do right rather than wrong, a plan for spiritual growth?

As I thought about this subject, it brought to mind parachuting. When a parachutist jumps out of a plane, he first wants to know that his parachute is packed properly and in working order. But, even then, he knows that things can go wrong. So, there is a plan “B,” a reserve parachute. In a way, this kind of plan can be both. It can guide us through the normal tests and temptations of life and help us to form new habits, and because it is written out, it can serve as that reserve parachute when emotions are running high.

So, what might it involve, how can we make one, and could it help us grow, steady us in tough times, and help us remain faithful when faced with testimony-threatening emergencies?

How to Make a Spiritual Growth Plan

Today’s Readings:

Joshua 7 & 8

Psalm 43.1-5

Proverbs 13.22-23

Luke 9.37-62

Joshua 7 & 8:

Planning & Common Grace

If you have ever been to a business, sales, or time management seminar, you have heard, often unsaved, men and women expound on the importance of making a plan. And we do plan all kinds of things … things as diverse as vacations, our retirement, and what we’ll buy at the grocery store.

Generals plan and strategize how to fight battles. Executives make business plans. Teachers plan out their lessons. Because of God’s common grace, we understand that planning is important.

And as I said in the introduction, even evil people plan how to do evil. The result has been computer systems being hacked, identities stolen, and other kinds of crimes successfully carried out.

But how many of us make a plan to do what’s right, a plan for spiritual growth, if you will? What if we did? Could it help us grow and become more like Christ? Could it stabilize us in tough times?

God’s Plans for Jericho & Beyond

In our Old Testament reading, the nation of Israel had just crossed over the Jordan River. And they did so on dry land just as their predecessors did through the Red Sea (Josh. 3). Next, they were to take Jericho. But they weren’t to come up with their own plan. They were to follow God’s very specific plan and because they obeyed His instructions, He gave them a great victory (Josh. 6).

But, sadly, not everyone followed God’s plan (Josh. 7.1 ). A man named Achan took spoil that God had commanded be destroyed. It brought not only his death but the death of thirty-six soldiers (Josh. 7.4-5) and his own family (Josh. 7.24-26).

Achan’s circumstances, in this case, a battle, allowed him to be tempted. That temptation connected with the greed and covetousness in his heart and he gave in and took what he wanted (Jas. 1.14-15; Josh. 7.21).

What does all this have to do with making a spiritual growth plan?

Planning for Temptation

Most of us won’t be faced with the temptation to take 200 shekels of silver and a bar of gold. But we are all faced with various temptations.

Every day we’re faced with temptations to worry and be anxious about everything from the state of our nation to our health and finances. Some of us are faced with the temptation to become impatient or angry as we live life among other sinners. And we may be tempted to blame one group or another for our circumstances.

Could a spiritual growth plan help us respond rightly to the temptations we all face, as well as, help us grow more consistently on a regular basis?

Components of a Spiritual Growth Plan

What might a “spiritual growth plan” include?

Think for a minute about what a financial planner might recommend as part of a long-term financial plan. First, there would be a budget to allocate the use of resources. It would probably include some savings, money set aside that was readily available for an unexpected emergency. There would likely be insurance of some kind and if there were investments, they would allow for good times and bad. But in order for any financial plan to be successful, the person involved would have to follow the plan.

I think there are some parallels here to what we should include in our plans. With the guidance of Scripture, what might we include?

Making a Spiritual Growth Plan

• A Budget

When it comes to finances, a budget is probably the most basic part. Each of us has a limited amount of time and energy to budget spiritually, as well. Paul told the Ephesians:

¹⁵ Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the best use of the time, because the days are evil (Eph. 5.15-16).

Part of an obedience plan should be a plan for using our time and energy. Do you have a scheduled time to meet with God regularly? Does your spiritual budget include time to pray, read the Bible systematically, study and meditate on God’s Word, attend worship services, and time for Christian fellowship and accountability?

• Savings

Unexpected emergencies inevitably come to us all. Do we have spiritual reserves? One psalmist said:

I have stored up your word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against you (Ps. 119.11 ESV).

Storing God’s Word in our hearts involves more than an occasional reading or one hour a week at a worship service. It’s purposeful and consistent. It includes memorizing Scripture so the Holy Spirit can bring it to our minds when we need it. There may not be time to go looking for what the Bible says when we are hit with a sudden loss or other emergencies.

• Insurance

For believers in Christ, God and His Word are our insurance. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us (Heb. 13.5), that nothing can separate us from His love (Rom. 8.31-39), and that we will spend eternity with Him (Jn. 10.27-30). He promises that He will use all things, even those that are hard to accept or understand, for our good to grow us and conform us to the image of Christ (Rom. 8.28-29). And He promises that He will allow nothing to happen in our lives that will be too much for us to handle if we keep our eyes on Him and rely on His strength (1 Cor. 10.13). But it’s important that we know and think about these truths, especially when things are challenging.

• A Plan that Allows for Good Times & Bad

Jesus warned us that we would all face difficult times:

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world (Jn. 16.33).

God doesn’t deliver us from all tribulations but He gives us the resources we need to walk through them well. When we do, it leads to our growth in holiness, brings Him glory, and results in our peace, joy, and blessedness (Lk. 18.1; Rom. 2.9-10, 8.28-29; Jas. 1.2-4).

Specifics of A Spiritual Growth Plan

• A Plan for Changing Our Thinking

Any plan to help us grow, respond well to temptation, or strengthen us in our walks with God, should start with our thinking, what the Bible calls renewing the mind (Rom. 12.2).

We should plan time to study and meditate on what God’s Word has to say about the specific areas of our lives where we are struggling or likely to face temptation. An online concordance like BibleGateway or BlueLetterBible can help. We should read the passages in context and ask for God’s help to apply them to our lives (Ps. 119.18).

As you study appropriate passages, take God at His Word, believe He’s right and you’re wrong if your thinking is not in line with His Word (Is. 55.8-9; Rom. 12.1-2; Eph. 4.23).

We should also renew our minds to more general passages about pleasing God and living life His way. Verses like John 14.15, 23; 2 Corinthians 5.9-10, and James 1.22-25 would be good places to start.

• A Plan for Changes in Prayer

I don’t want to get legalistic here as if there is some right way and wrong way to pray or some formula to get God to move in our lives. Prayer is first about a relationship. It’s communication and communion with our Heavenly Father.

Yet, many of us have struggled for years with sinful habit patterns that we have asked God to remove over and over. Certainly, God wants us to be persistent in prayer (Lk. 18.1-8) and He doesn’t answer every prayer on our timetable. But is it possible that there might be a better way to pray about some things?

Perhaps, instead of praying for God to remove some desire or habit, we should pray that He would give us the will and the power to do what pleases Him (Phil. 2.13) or to help us watch and pray that we don’t enter into temptation (Matt. 26.41). And instead of complaining that He hasn’t brought us a spouse or a better job or some other thing, we might pray to be content and to grow in our trust in Him and His timing.

• A Plan for Changes in Action

Then we must make an action plan.

If you are struggling with some temptation, what verse of Scripture will be your “sword of the Spirit” (Eph. 6.17)? What would it mean to “make no provision for the flesh” (Rom. 13.14)?

How can you “burn your bridges” where sin is concerned? What do you need to get rid of … a phone number, a Facebook friend, a secret credit card, mementos, or other reminders?

One of the old Puritans said, “Don’t park your carriage outside the occasion of your sin.” What places do you need to avoid?

If you are tempted by an inappropriate relationship, don’t deceive yourself into thinking you can “just be friends.” Stop any contact with that person! Look for godly friends who can help hold you accountable and make arrangements to reach out to them when necessary.

If you said you’re going to stop running up your credit cards, what can you do instead of hanging out at the mall? If you find yourself struggling with drunkenness, don’t go places where people are expected to drink. And if you struggle with internet issues, move the computer to a public place in the house (2 Tim. 2.22).

• Plan to Put On Not Just Put Off

Look for what we call the put-offs and put-ons in the Bible. To better understand what I mean, study Ephesians 4.22-24. You will find many of them in Ephesians 4-6, Colossians 3, and the book of Philippians. But once you start looking for them, you will see them everywhere.

Let’s look at Ephesians 4.31-32 as an example:

³¹ Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. ³² And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Verse 31 has a whole list of attitudes and behaviors we need to put off. But it’s not enough to just clam up or worse yet avoid the person with whom you’re tempted to be angry. The put-ons for verse 31 are in verse 32.

So part of a plan to put off anger should include showing kindness, compassion, and forgiveness to the very person with whom you’re tempted to be angry. The plan needs to list specific ways to do so.

Another example might be Philippians 4.6:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

When we’re tempted to be worried or anxious, we must turn to God in prayer and thankfulness. An obedience plan needs to include specific ways to do so, including what to pray and a list of things for which we can be thankful.

A Simple Plan for Growing & Changing Concerning Anger

A simple obedience plan for anger might look something like this:

• Thinking:

Memorize and meditate on Ephesians 4.31-32 and 2 Corinthians 5.9.

• Prayer:

Pray and ask God to give me the desire to do what pleases Him in every situation and to help me choose to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving with ________, especially when I’m tempted to be angry.

• Actions:

1. Demonstrate kindness by praying sincerely for _______.
2. Choose to speak kindly instead of being rude or sarcastic.
3. (If it’s your spouse) cook a favorite meal without expecting anything in return.
4. (For a teenage son or daughter) slip a small Starbucks gift card into his or her backpack.
5. Grow in compassion by remembering that I was a teen once too.
6. Remember just how much I have been forgiven by God and that He has called me to forgive others as He has forgiven me.
7. Meditate on the gospel and what it means.

• When I Fail:

1. Immediately go to God in prayer. Ask for His forgiveness and help. Remember the gospel and how Christ died for this very sin.
2. Go to the other person and ask for forgiveness. Be specific without minimizing or blame-shifting.

Writing out a plan with specific examples can help you remember, strengthen your resolve, and give you a blueprint to follow when emotions are running high. It can be that reserve parachute.

What about you? Should you consider making a plan to help you grow spiritually and for the areas with which you struggle?

Today’s Other Readings:

Psalm 43.1-5:

Trusting God When He Doesn’t Seem to Answer Our Prayers

We may not always understand why God doesn’t seem to be answering our prayers for help and deliverance. But as the psalmist did here (Ps. 43.1-2), we should keep our eyes on Him, trusting that His answers are the right ones and His timing is perfect.

Proverbs 13.22-23:

Poor Judgment, Unfairness, and Bad Management

Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor, and for lack of justice there is waste (v. 23).

In the Parable of the Minas (Lk. 19.11-27), we see that God rewards faithfulness. When even a poor man is faithful with what he has, God will provide the return. But, as this verse in Proverbs reminds us, great resources can be wasted by poor judgment, unfairness, and bad management.

Luke 9.37-62:

Priorities, Obedience & Happy Hearts

As Jesus traveled and ministered there were others traveling with Him besides the twelve Apostles. He was apparently speaking to one of them in verse 59 when He said, “Follow me …” The man responded, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” This was not about making funeral arrangements, but about waiting for his father to die so he could get his inheritance.

Another man said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house” (v.61). Jesus answered, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (v. 62).

We have probably all been guilty of stalling or making excuses for things we really didn’t want to do … possibly even to God as these two men did.

Ginger Hubbard in her parenting book, Don’t Make Me Count to Three, suggests teaching children to “Obey all the way, right away, with a happy heart!” Perhaps, when it comes to God’s commands, we should all practice the same principle.

Coming Up:

In the coming days, we’ll talk about parenting from the foot of the cross, how we can be too busy and distracted, viewing all of life through the lens of Scripture, and how our thinking affects our emotions.

I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss any of them. If this post spoke to you, I would so appreciate it if you would share it on your favorite social media platform.

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Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥

Note about this post:

I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer. 

A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”

I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.

Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)

I sometimes LINKUP with these blogs.