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Plan then pray? OR Pray then plan?

One of my favorite authors is Patrick Morley.  I really do like his book, "Waiting with Christ in the Details of Life."

 I recently read this prayer of surrender from that great book:  "Lord, I must confess that my way has been "plan, then pray."  I have wanted to do good things for You; my movies have been to please You.  But I realize that I have built shelters You didn't need and never used.  I have wasted so much valuable time on matters that don't matter.  I surrender all my plans to You, Lord.  I will forget them.  I will pray, then plan.  I will pray and wait for You to come and touch me and say, 'Get up.  Don't be afraid.'  I am listening now, Lord.  Instruct me with Your plan.  Amen."

 I have to confess; I've been guilty.  Far too many times I plan, and then pray for God to bless my plan when I should be praying and then planning as I sense God beginning to work...listening for His "go" and His "stop."

 Maybe today will be the day I wait a while after praying, believing that He will be faithful to speak to me with HIS plan for my life.  If He doesn't speak as quickly as I think or want, I will wait a little longer, and try, in earnest, not to jump headlong into MY plan B.  After all, His Word says that HE KNOWS THE PLANS HE HAS FOR ME... not HE KNOWS THE PLANS I HAVE FOR ME.  HIS plan is where my hope will come from and where my hope needs to stay.

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