7 Essential Steps for Planning with God

This Sunday Pastor JP Huish revealed and explained to us key steps in planning with God. In a season of results, pragmatic advise/instructions are vital. So here is a summary of all the points that were made. If this interests you, click here to go check out the full session 8 on YouTube, or find us on Spotify here.

1. Get Divine Direction: Before you draft a single goal, ask God: “What do You want me to do here?”

   • How He Speaks: dreams, visions, prophecy, Scripture, inner witness.

   • Biblical Examples:

     • Joseph & Pharaoh’s Dream (Gen 41:32–36): Pharaoh’s repeated dream signaled God’s plan for seven years of plenty followed by seven of famine—direction Joseph then interpreted. ​

     • Paul’s Macedonian Call (Acts 16:9–10): A vision of a man pleading “Come help us” spurred Paul’s immediate journey. ​

   
   

2. Provide the Plan: Once you’ve heard from God, map out how you’ll obey.

   • Joseph’s Strategy: He told Pharaoh to appoint wise overseers, collect one‑fifth of the harvest, and store grain in every city (Gen 41:33–37). ​

   • Everyday Example: If God calls you to submit at work, plan mind‑renewal, Scripture meditation, and prayer to cultivate a truly submissive heart. In other words, Get into the word — get understanding (of your relevant word for your situation) — develop a plan of action!​
     

3. Seek God’s Approval of Your Plans: Don’t just do—bring your blueprints back to the Lord.

   • 3A. Present Your Plans (Prov 16:1): “The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.” Test motives (Balaam) and intentions (David). ​

   • 3B. Commit Your Works (Prov 16:3): “Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.”

   • 3C. God Turns Plans for Good (Prov 16:7): “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

   • 3D. Trust Him to Direct Your Steps (Prov 16:9): “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”
     

4. Surround Yourself with Wise Counselors: “Without counsel plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established” (Prov 15:22).

   • Seek both spiritual mentors and practical experts (lawyers, accountants, seasoned believers). ​
     

5. Walk the Way of Wisdom: Wisdom isn’t a one‑off insight—it’s a lifestyle:

   • Begin with God’s Word (“In the beginning was the Word”).

   • Ask good questions (“Is this You, Lord?”).

   • Check your motives—before you act. ​
     

6. Avoid Common Pitfalls:

   • 6A. Acting on Visions Not from God

     • Forcing God to provide for your own dreams will backfire. God does NOT operate outside of His word/will.

   • 6B. Neglecting to Acknowledge God

     • “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Prov 3:6).

     • Ignoring His voice leads to “walking in the counsels and imaginations of your own heart.” (Jer 7:23–24). ​
       

7. Seize Open‑Ended Prophecies: Sometimes God speaks into the atmosphere rather than to a person. Those “open prophecies” wait for someone to respond.

   • Example: Prophecies of oil in Namibia twenty years ago could have spurred believers to register companies, do geological research and position themselves—but few did. ​

   • Ask: “What kingdom‑purpose is being spoken over my region or season? How can I step in?”
     

Planning with God is a partnership: you hear His voice, draft the strategy, vet it with Him and trusted advisors, walk the path of wisdom, avoid self‑driven detours, and step into every opportunity He’s spoken—even those He’s broadcast into the air. Follow these seven steps, and you’ll see His purposes unfold through you.

Full Session: Doctrine of Christ III - Session 8 with Pastor JP Huish