What's that all about and who even wants to be a speaker?
Well, are you a believer? Then let's talk about effective planning.
It can be about a scheme to formulate with a good aim; or a drawing, or a diagram, or a program, or a systematic method.. all worked out beforehand for the accomplishment of an objective—yes, that's a plan. I'd say that good planning is effective pre-thinking and praying for the best results and the benefit of the most people that'll be involved. It's wise preparing early for the purpose of blessing later. It's kind of bringin' the future out of the future to your side to deal with it..bringin' it right into the present if ya will so that you can potentially do something positive about what'll happen then.. before it actually does.
For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? See Luke 14:28-33
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
The prudent understand where they are going, but fools deceive themselves. Proverbs 14:8
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:6
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Timothy 5:8
Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine. Genesis 41:34-36
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. John 16:13
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:7-9
The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. Proverbs 21:5
Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house. Proverbs 24:27
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6
Every Christian speaker, whether that's one to one person, or one to more than one person, needs to prayerfully plan out and even expect God to guide them. And he or she needs to know that there are real benefits...yes, for more than one person cuz of their good planning. This is what bein' smart, and hermeneutics, and homiletics, and evangelistic or discipleship kinda prayin' is all about. Trust that...
"God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think." Ephesians 3:20
Poem for ya: I am your constant companion.
I am your greatest helper or heaviest burden. I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.
I am completely at your command.
Half of the things you do.. you might as well turn over to me and I will do them - quickly and correctly.
I am easily managed - you must be pretty firm with me. Show me exactly how you want something done and after a few lessons, I will do it automatically. I am the servant of great people, and alas, of all failures as well.
Those who are great, I pretty much so.. have made great. Those who are failures, I have made failures. I am not a machine though I work with the precision of a machine plus the intelligence or folly of a person. You may run me for profit or run me for ruin - it makes no difference to me.
Take me, thoroughly train me, be firm with me, and I will place those of the world right at your feet.. for a purpose. Be too easy with me.. always doing what your flesh feels like doing.. and I will destroy you. Who am I? I am Habit.
By Anon and tweaked by @kurtwvs
By Anon and tweaked by @kurtwvs
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:1-16
"Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes; but no plans." ― Peter F. Drucker
If you've already committed.. if you're scheduled to speak and you don't feel like starting the work of good planning, speaker, then you have your first prayer request huh… praying hard that you and the Lord together will find a way to start some good planning. And guess what?.. He isn't the One not knowing what to do or how He wants it done. Question: Do you have some other growing Christian friends as well who you can chat with about different aspects of it?
A goal without a plan is just a wish. ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. ― Benjamin Franklin
Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. ― Abraham Lincoln
Determine in your heart now to get alone for diligently study, to know your topic well, to wisely apply it early, and in some appropriate location ..to boldly preach the Word in a non-preachy or weird-pushy sorta way. Do it for decisions and the glory of God.. even if you're not called by Him into career ministry. You know that all believers are called of God to be holy full time reps for Christ. It's about show and tell, walkin' it and then talkin' it.
Ask yourself three things real early: 1.) What do I really want them to know ..that's biblical (a.k.a., what does God want em to know)? 2.) What do I want em to be (yes, more importantly what God wants em to be..), and 3.) What do I want them to do? God is very practical. So, tell them what you're going to tell them, clearly tell em giving simple explanation for their fully-understanding's-sake, and then tell them what you clearly told them.. to do. Don't forget to give them an opportunity to respond and get right with God.. those who don't yet know God, for those who have wandered away from God (He never wanders away from us), and for those who just need God's direct ministry or healing in some area.
Remember that you can't export it if you don't somehow first import it.. from the Lord. So let the Word of God dwell in you richly with His wisdom—allowing the Word to be like a bright lamp for your feet to walk on in the planning and delivery (see Psalm 119:105). Opt not to be one who traffics in un-lived truth.
Pre-think it all the way through, not merely the night before or half way through. Do that together with several wise and godly people if ya can. Sure, cuz the Bible says..
"Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." Proverbs 15:22
Want God's help? Ask for His help cuz, "God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think." Ephesians 3:20
Form the habit starting today! Plan and do the next right thing in the right way at just the right time.. and with right motives, smile, and attitude in right relationship with Jesus. He'll be faithful to reward you for it ..no matter who you are.
Have a sense of urgency and joy about you. There's good reason to. If you pray and plan well now, then you can have strong confidence and fruit for your labor then. Expect. Besides, it can be a whole lot of fun watching God go to work. He blesses His Word rather than our mere opinions. For more on this just click "Like" at: facebook.com/shareJesus
