I am a planner! I have backup plans for the plans I make and I love seeing them come to fruition. Sad to say, I don’t always pray through and ask God to direct every plan I make. However, when it comes to leadership in CHristian schools, it is imperative that biblical principles be followed as leaders seek God’s direction for future years.
Over the years, I have been blessed to help lead schools through the strategic planning process. While there are plenty of others that help schools in this way and similar processes are used to help schools through a strategic plan, I believe the following principles must be foundational for a Christ-centered strategic plan to be achieved:
Prayer
I know that almost sounds too simple but if we are honest, sometimes it is the last thing we try. In Joshua 9, we see the men of Israel made some poor decisions because they “did not ask for the counsel of the Lord.” Leaders in Christian schools do not want to be guilty of leading others astray because they did not seek the counsel of the Lord. Thankfully, we do see some positive examples of prayer in Scripture:
I Samuel 23: 2-4- “David inquired of the Lord, saying, shall I go and attack the Philistines…then David inquired of the Lord once more.”
Ezra 8:23- “So we fasted and sought our God concerning this matter, and He listened to our entreaty.”
James 5:16- “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much”
The first step to the strategic planning process is to confess and seek the Lord as to His will for your school.
Examine Everything
As our hearts are purified before the Lord, we then must examine everything in our schools. I Thessalonians 5:21-22 says that we must “examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.” School boards and leaders must take a close examination of themselves and their schools. They must know their current realities and what needs to be cut, changed, or added in the future in order to honor Christ and achieve His mission.
Discover God’s Plan
God does not hide his will from His people. We know that His will is for people to be saved, and for people to be filled with His Spirit, and for people to grow in knowledge of Him, and for people to give thanks and glorify Him. The question is, how do we continue to see that happen in our Christian schools?
Proverbs 16:9 says that “man makes his plans but God directs his steps.” As we make plans, we must make sure that God is leading and guiding in these plans. Always remember God’s plan and timing is always perfect. Even when they don’t make sense. Remember God’s plan to have Abraham offer Isaac, His plan for Joshua to march around a city 7 times, with no weapons, and God’s plan to cut back Gideon’s army to 300 people? Those examples didn’t make sense at the moment but God used the obedience of His people, teamed with His perfect plan, to accomplish His will. Luckily, I don’t see us having to march around our opponents football stadium to get the victory but I am confident that whatever God calls us to do, He will help us accomplish.
Be Obedient
Once we pray, examine everything, and confirm God’s plan for our lives and school, the next step is easy. We are faithful to do what He has called us to do. Remember that when God called Nehemiah to rebuild the walls, the walls were torn down, the people were scared, and the enemy was loud and in their ears. However, God used Nehemiah to unite the people, they prayed to the Lord, they had a mind to work, and they took action.
Whether it be this year or in the years to come, if a strategic plan is in your future, be sure to seek the Lord in prayer, examine everything carefully, be reminded of God’s plan, and then carry it out as He leads. Praise the Lord that we can be confident that He will finish what He started.
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