Thinking Ahead

 Do you ever spend time thinking ahead? I don’t mean in the sense of merely looking forward to dessert, although I do that a lot. I’m talking about the kind of thinking that is especially popular at this time of year. You start thinking about what your last year was like and what you want your next year to be like. Perhaps you think about relationships that need to be repaired. In your home, you may ponder the next big home project. In your work, you may scheme on how to attain more paid sick days.

Whatever kind of thinking it is, we’re given some guidelines in God’s Word.

Hakuna Matata

We’re told not to worry about the future. In fact, Jesus compares us to birds and flowers and assures us that we’re worth more to God than those things (Matthew 5:25-34). Whew! In case you become concerned that God might be ok with us being hungry and naked, rest assured, He is not. Jesus tells us that our Father knows we need them. But God also knows that “life is more important than food, and the body more important than clothes” (Matthew 5:25b).

So while Timon and Pumba, of Lion King fame, may have sang Hakuna Matata in an attempt to do as little as possible, we can sing it as praise to God. No worries may not mean problem-free living, but it does mean that God has our back.

Don’t Worship the Plans

Have you ever had a near-death experience? I’ve had a couple. When I realize how close I was, it makes me pause and think about my plans for that day. I’m all for planning, but James was correct when he said that we “are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14). So we should plan with open hands.

You never know what God has in mind.  If we did, it would likely change all our plans. So would the knowledge of how many close calls we’ve actually had. Not every close call is one we will see. Consider all the delays and distractions that come your way. Yeah, they may mess with your plans. But they may be in God’s plans.

If we’re to really look ahead, I think we may need to do some more thinking.

How often do you plan ahead? How far ahead do you look? How has that helped or hindered your faith?