A story for you.

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“Done!” Goodness exclaimed, and heaved a sigh of relief as she tucked the new ballpoint pen into her tote bag. She perused the contents she had scribbled in the new journal she had bought (she loved to make new plans with a new pen and journal) and was about to place it on her bookshelf when the door opened.

“Hmmm? What are you trying to conceal from me?” Grace, her elder sister, asked as she entered the room, casting a suspicious glance her way.

Goodness smiled and neatly tucked the book onto her shelf before making a seat available for her sister.

“What’s going on? I saw you hide something as soon as I walked in. Tell me, what was that?”

“Is it something you want to see?” Goodness teased.

“Do I have a choice? My curiosity says yes. Anyways, dear, if you would rather not show me, that’s fine. By the way, have this…” Grace said as she turned aside, brought out a small parcel from her handbag and handed it to her sister.

It was an expensive smart wristwatch. Goodness was so excited to have one.

“Oh my! Big Sis, you are the beeeeeessssttttt!!!! This is the wristwatch of my dreams!” Goodness exclaimed in excitement and hugged her sister tightly. “Thank you, and God bless you!.”

“Thank God, dear. It’s my new year gift to you.”

“Awwwn! That’s so sweet of you, my one-and-only Big Sis! Wait a moment, you’re not in a hurry, are you?” Goodness asked as she carefully wrapped her gift, put it away, and brought out her journal.

“Not at all, dear. Anything for me?” Grace replied

“I want you to help me with something…,” she said while handing over the Journal to her Sister.

“I’ve made plans for everything I want to achieve this year. I’ve also written down some resolutions I must keep, and a lot more. What do you think about them?”

“Give me a minute, dear,” Grace said as she scrutinized each page.

Goodness loved her sister’s wisdom in carefully considering every detail before responding. Most of the important decisions in their family were reviewed by Grace before being made.

Her sister’s disciplined life had inspired her to start journaling and making plans in the first place.This wasn’t the first time she had made new year’s plans. Last year’s list had only a few checkmarks. She hadn’t accomplished most of what she’d set out to do. Now, she had written even more for the new year and felt pleased with the long list of goals she had assigned herself. She was eagerly awaiting a word of praise when her sister finally spoke.

“How many people are meant to achieve these?”

“I don’t understand, Big Sis. I didn’t write this for anyone else; It’s just for myself. You know what?” Goodness went on, “I have big plans for myself this year. I decided to make them as grand and numerous as possible. By the end of the year, I’ll feel so fulfilled having accomplished so much.”she ended with an assertive tone.

“My dear, I understand you want to aim high, that is very. But before planning, did you pray? Did you ask God to include His plans in your journal first? Grace inquired.

“Am I supposed to do that? Goodness replied. “God expects us to plan, after all, He gave us a brain to think for ourselves.”

“Yes, God wants us to plan. However, in our planning, we must include His plans.”Grace continued, “My dear, if you accomplished all these plans and felt good about yourself and you skipped what God wanted you to do,then in His eyes you’ve wasted the year.” She paused, then went on.“God may tell you to do only a few things and sometimes, a lot. It is imperative we make those plans our priorities.

“How many of your past resolutions have you kept? How many plans have you actually fulfilled? Honestly, you might not accomplish half of what you’ve written. Some of these are vague and unrealistic. Let God guide your planning, dear.” Grace concluded and left the room.

After Grace left, Goodness began to reflect on her sister’s advice.

It was true.

Most of her past resolutions had come to nothing, and her plans had followed the same unfinished pattern. She hadn’t accomplished even one-fourth of what she’d set out to do. Now, she was about to repeat thesame cycle. Thank God Grace had come to her rescue.

Immediately, she tore those pages from her journal and set herself to seek God’s face, to ask what to plan for, and how to plan.

I know many of us have made, are making, or will make plans for this new year. All I want us to remember is for us to plan with God.

As it is written in Psalms 37:5 (KJV): Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass