On Creating Prayer

If you have a detailed business plan, write it out as a prayer, committing the strategies to the glory of God and yourself to implementing them.

Charles R. Swindoll

I love this! And, I think it applies to all plans — business or not. Make it a prayer and keep God involved. Make it a prayer commit ourselves to a strong finish. Proverbs 3: 5-8 says

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. ⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. ⁸ It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

Swindoll recommends praying a part of the plan daily, a few times a day. Recruit some partners to agree with you. Then Swindoll makes some guarantees.

First, something wonderful will happen. It will be a change for the better — with the plan, the target, or with you.

Second, we allow the Lord to lead us. He gets to be the most significant part of the process — not us, not our plan, but Him. Amen to that!

Finally, we will lay hold of God’s will. That’s the point, right? Prayer is for alignment, us to Him (not vice versa!). Writing out our plans as prayers is a simple idea that can yield in many great ways. Let’s gather those sticky notes, napkins, and paper fragments and bring them all into the presence of God. Let’s invite His presence, and engage our faith by repeatedly offering the plan to the Lord. Let’s spread the fire to some prayer partners, and grow in confidence that others are speaking the same thing.

Then, let’s watch what God does and how He does it. I hope you’re as excited for yourself as I am for you. Now, go and do.

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Dr. Shaunta Scroggins is the founder of The Bereans’ Commentary.