Our family went to Disney World for vacation earlier this month. It was 3 years of saving and planning. We saved up credit card points and money to pay cash for this trip. We didn't even take a vacation away from home last year so we could save up. We worked with a vacation planner to make it a great experience for our kids. We looked at online tips and researched things like places to eat and the new magic band and fast pass systems. It was a process but it made the trip more enjoyable. We had a great time with max fun. I saw a bunch of families wandering through the park or staring at maps trying to figure things out and not sure where to go. It's easy to waste time or miss a lot of things in the parks if you're not prepared. I'm glad we were prepared & had plans for each park because it made the experience more enjoyable.

I think our lives can be similiar to this experience. It seems like we can go through the motions of life. It can seem like we are just wander through life and trying to figure it out. Years pass by and nothing seems to change. We can end up wasting our lives because we don't have a plan. It's more than just having good intentions; it's about having direction and taking steps.

The Bible has a lot to say about planning, wisdom and direction. There are many references to these ideas in the book of Proverbs like these verses:

Proverbs 2:11-13 - Wise planning will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. Wisdom will save you from evil people, from those whose speech is corrupt. These people turn from right ways to walk down dark and evil paths.

Proverbs 21:5 - The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to want.

Here's the deal: Don't just wing it in life. Find direction and have a plan. With your marriage, your family, your  job & career path, and especially with your relationship with God & way your live your life, live with purpose. With my vacation, all the planning and steps weren't always fun but it paid off in the end. The same is true in life. All the steps can be small daily decisions which aren't always fun or easy, but it will lead you in a direction that will pay off in the long run. God says the his ways are like a plan for our lives to give us hope and to help us experience our best life (Jer. 29:11-13). We have developed the core essentials to help give us a plan for how to live our best life according to God's ways. Check them out and explore your next step. Don't just have good intentions. Have a plan & make wise daily decisions. Your direction will determine your destination.