Planning and Sacrifice

Most people understand that missionaries are supposed to learn how to plan. They hear about the missionary daily planner, daily planning, weekly planning, lesson planning, etc.

God is a planner. There's something called....The Plan of Salvation. Whoa. And His is a house of order, He's got to be pretty organized right?

Well, fortunately for me, I started my mission off already having been a crazy organized planner person. I still learned more about planning as I tore apart chapter 8 of Preach My Gospel. As I continued my mission though, I found that no matter how much prayer and faith you included in your planning process, things still changed.

Everyone knows that things don't always go as planned. And for me, that was super hard to accept. I like to be in control of everything. I want things to go my way. If something throws a wrench in my plans, well, then they deal with a grumpy person that has a thundercloud over their head. Or at least that's what I sometimes see...

As my mission progressed, I got a little bit better at accepting that things weren't always going to be in my control. Try as I might, others have different opinions than mean. Also, the Master Planner's plans can over-ride mine all the time. So since He knows best, shouldn't I just give up my will and follow what He has in store? Yes.

That's a bit harder, no, a lot harder than it is to say.

I had a companion that once said something like this... "before we go into a lesson, we say a prayer. It's kinda like burning the offering. We've planned, we've prepared, but we pray so that we have the spirit with us and also so that if God wants to teach something else, we will be willing to be His mouthpiece. We will surrender our will to His. He knows His children much better than we do."

Burning the offering. Sacrifice right? What are we putting on God's alter? Our will, our control, our trust. We decide to trust in Him and have faith that He will take care of each situation.

Joshua 1:9
"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
D&C 123:17
"Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for His arm to be revealed."

There you go. Remember, He is with you. Therefore, do all you can and then... Don't Worry About It, Buddy! (the DWAIB concept). :)

I love you, I love the gospel. I love my Heavenly Father. I am so grateful that no matter what, He is kind and compassionate. He loves all of us so much. Even though we get frustrated with His plans sometimes, or we take our trust in Him away, He still loves us unconditionally. What a great Father. :)