Plan, Pray, Pivot – embracing God’s guidance in our dreams and plans
"Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it." — Habakkuk 2:2 (NKJV)
There’s something powerful about writing down our vision and making a plan. It brings clarity, focus, and intention. When we make our goals tangible, we’re more likely to take action toward them. As Christians, we’re reminded that our plans are not solely ours to control. They must be submitted to God’s will and guided by His purpose.
This is where the principles of Plan, Pray, Pivot come into play.
Plan: Write the Vision
In Habakkuk 2:2, God instructs us to write the vision and make it plain. It’s an act of faith—putting into words what we believe God has placed in our hearts. When we plan, we acknowledge the gifts, desires, and passions He’s given us, and we create a roadmap toward fulfilling them.
God has given us the ability to dream and make plans, but He also calls us to be wise stewards of the opportunities before us. Planning is not just about setting goals but also about asking God for direction in each step. As Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”
We are called to dream big, but also to keep God at the centre of those dreams. Write the vision, make it plain, and then submit it to God in prayer.
Pray: Submit Your Plans to God
While it’s vital to plan, it’s just as important to pray over those plans. Our prayers are an act of surrender—acknowledging that God’s ways are higher than our own, and trusting that His plan is always better than anything we could devise on our own.
In Proverbs 19:21, it says, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” Our plans are often well thought out, but we have to continually bring them before God and ask for His guidance, wisdom, and discernment.
In prayer, we invite the Holy Spirit to lead us, to align our desires with God’s will, and to give us the patience to wait for His perfect timing. When we pray over our plans, we seek God’s peace in our hearts, trusting that He will guide us in the right direction.
Pivot: Trust in God’s Timing
When it comes to submitting to God (our plans & ourselves), pivoting is crucial. Pivoting means being willing to surrender our own plans and align ourselves with God’s will, even when that requires a change in direction.
Growing up, I often heard it said that God answers prayers in one of three ways: Yes, No, or Not Yet. We may plan and dream, but sometimes God’s response is not what we expect. We must be ready to pivot, to adjust our course when God redirects us. This is often a difficult and humbling process, but when God comes in….
In Isaiah 30:21, God promises, “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it.”
When we’re open to God’s leading, we learn to trust Him in those moments of uncertainty. It’s in these times of pivoting that our faith grows. We realize that God’s way is always better, even when it doesn’t match our own plans. And when we follow His direction, we can be confident that He will guide us to exactly where we need to be.
Plan, Pray, Pivot
These 3 Ps are essential to living out God’s purpose for our lives. It’s a reminder that while we are called to dream and set goals, we must always submit our plans to God.
The beauty of this process is that, when we surrender our desires to Him, He refines us and leads us to places we never imagined. So, take time to write the vision, pray for guidance, and be ready to pivot when God calls you to follow His perfect path.
Psalm 37:5, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.” Our plans may change, but God’s faithfulness never does.
Let’s continue to trust in His guidance, knowing that His purpose will always prevail.
NKJV: New King James Version