A few years ago, I read a blog post by Michael Hyatt on the importance of creating a life plan.
Making a life plan is not intended to try to play god or to squeeze Christ out of being Lord over your life; it’s a way to cooperate with Him to successfully manage the relationships, duties, and finances that He has entrusted to you.
Although making a life plan is very simple, few people commit time to plan their life, but it’s truly a valuable investment.
Here’s how to make one:
Michael Hyatt recommends taking one full day to create your life plan. With my work, family, and other responsibilities, I couldn’t disappear for a full day. Instead, I woke up early each morning for two weeks and spent 30-45 minutes each day working on it. The result was a five-page life plan that gave me a renewed sense of clarity and purpose.
My eight priorities that emerged from the exercise were:
- God
- Self
- My Wife
- My Children
- Family & Friends
- Career
- Finances
- Ministry
As an example, here is a condensed version of the details for my first priority.
Priority 1: God
Envisioned Future:
I am intimately connected with God and His purposes for my life. I seek His wisdom daily and walk in the power of His Spirit living in me. I faithfully pursue my calling and frequently see evidence of my efforts being multiplied by His providential hand. I am being transformed daily to be more like Christ. His joy is evident in all circumstances I face. His power is changing me and the lives of those around me.
Purpose Statement:
My purpose is to love Jesus the way that He has loved me and share that love with others. I want to spend significant time in God’s presence and hold the door open wide so that others may experience God.
Supporting Verse:
“I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” Psalm 84:10-11.
Current Reality:
- I feel very connected to God & His purposes.
- I feel content and secure in His love.
- I am doing significant work for the Kingdom – loving my wife, children, family and friends, leading my family, writing, and speaking.
- I am reading the Bible and praying regularly.
Specific Commitments:
- Start my day with Bible reading. Goal: Finish Chronological Bible this year
- Listen to 1 sermon / week during commute. Goal: 52 sermons
- Pray regularly, during daily commute, at meals, with my wife and kids.
- Develop a prayer list. Pray regularly and intentionally for people and situations. Then, record how God answers these requests.
I keep this document on my computer and review it regularly. Every six months, I block out an hour to update it. This process has been extremely valuable. It serves as a great reminder of what’s truly important and allows me to track progress in each area over time.
Proverbs 29:18 reminds us that, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Are you focused on pursuing God’s vision for your life? Do you have a plan in place to discover His vision for you? If not, let me encourage you to start by making a life plan.
The above concept is simple but powerful:
- Identify your priorities.
- Envision your desired outcome.
- Understand the purpose behind each priority.
- Recognize your current reality.
- Determine specific commitments to reach the envisioned future.
Additional Resources
The Blueprint for Life eight week study will help you create a life plan to help fulfill your dreams and goals. The study contains a workbook and ten audio messages featuring Andy Stanley, Louie Giglio, Tony Evans, John Maxwell and others. It’s now available for digital download. Click here to check it out!
