The old cliché is true: If you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail. The future belongs to the person who plans and prepares for it.

In order to step into God’s destiny for your life, the Bible says you must make a plan. Joshua 1:1-3 says, “After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: ‘Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses’” (NIV).

The first thing God said to Joshua as they prepared to enter the Promised Land was this: “Moses . . . is dead” (Joshua 1:1 NIV). Why? Because Joshua was never going to possess his destiny if he looked backward and got stuck in the past. 

The same is true for you. What do you need to bury from your past that’s dead? You cannot get on with your destiny if you’re always looking backward.

The second thing God told Joshua was this: “Get ready to cross the Jordan River” (Joshua 1:2 NIV). In other words, you’ve got to prepare and plan it out. Be specific.

Let me ask you. Where do you want to be in 10, 20, or 50 years?  You’re either moving towards your destiny or you’re drifting.

Proverbs 20:18 says it like this: “Don’t go charging into battle without a plan” (GNT). 

God says it’s wise to plan, but since you don’t know the future, he also wants you to give him the right to change those plans, and then trust that he knows what’s best for you.

So how do you do that? Commit whatever you do to the Lord and trust him to make it succeed. Make your plans and then say, “Lord, this is the best I can do. I’m surrendering these plans to you, and I give you the right to change them. I’m giving it all to you.”

Do you have a life plan? Most people have spent more time planning their vacation than they have planning their lives. If the following prayer expresses your heart, you might say:

Dear God, I want to prepare a plan for my life. I’ve planned so many other things, but I’ve never really even planned my life. I don’t want to waste the rest of my life. Help me to be smart and wise and start planning today. In Jesus’ name, amen.