While sitting in chapel one day, I had a "light bulb" moment. I am definitely a visual learner, and object lessons are my favorite. All of the sudden, I thought "this is like God's plan for us!" He is always doing what is best for me, but I must choose to submit. I have to give my consent - put my life in the care of my Father and take one day at a time. I don't know all that his plan includes yet, but have to trust that everything is for my good and His glory.
God's Care Plan
Here is the breakdown in a care plan format... it is just the way my brain is wired these days :)
Assessment:
- God is assessing the condition of my heart, knows my deepest thoughts and desires, my fears. He sees the signs and symptoms of my attitude. He knows my past, my strengths and weaknesses. He knows how well I am or am not "coping" and my circumstances.
- For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. {Heb. 4:12}
Diagnoses:
- Risk for pride: thinking my plan is better, making decisions without prayer, trusting myself AEB arrogance, self-reliance, independence, selfishness
- Deficient joy volume R/T {abbreviation for "related to"} a search for fulfillment in things or people, lack of thankfulness
- Risk for loneliness: failure to build relationships in the body of Christ, thinking I am the only one who struggles in this way
- Ineffective coping R/T dissatisfaction in pursuing life's pleasures, discontentment
- Prayer deficiency R/T independence from God AEB desire to maintain control of situations
- Failure to show compassion R/T busyness AEB self-focus
- Complete exhaustion R/T living in my own strength
- Risk of just existing: living without purpose, seeking pleasure and avoiding pain
- Risk for worship deficit: idols of my heart, unconfessed sins, distracted mind
Planning the goal & expected outcomes: this is the ultimate purpose and just some of the things the Lord wants and wills for us! {Micah 6:8}
- By {the appointed yet unknown time of death}, pt. will become more like the image of Christ, advance the kingdom of God, and reflect His love to others he encounters.
- Pt. {patient} will experience a close, real, and personal daily walk with Christ through prayer, confession, and listening to the Holy Spirit speak through His Word.
- Pt will come boldly before the throne and pour out his complaints before the Lord.
- Pt. will ask for assistance in every situation. Pray without ceasing.
- Pt. will speak truth instead of listening to himself; be guided by heavenly wisdom and not his emotions.
- Pt. will be set apart, holy, unmovable for Christ.
- Pt. will have peace past all understanding, not like the world gives, because HE has overcome the world!
- Pt .will have victory in Christ over sin!
- Pt. will reflect God's love in his conduct, conversations, and compassion.
- Pt will be encouraged and motivated through fellowship with an assembly of believers.
- Pt. will worship in spirit and in truth.
- Pt. will learn forgiveness, and not take his life or revenge into his own hands.
- Pt. will be a steward of his resources, the Gospel, and grace.
- Pt. will measure out mercy to others as he has been measured mercy from the Father.
- Pt. will testify of God's goodness and give praise to the Father!
Interventions: As for God, His way is perfect {Ps 18:30}
- Just like my patient may not know that they will need an IV later that day and will have a follow-up x-ray tomorrow, I do not necessarily know what is coming next. However, unlike healthcare providers, nothing is a surprise to my Physician. He sees the treatments coming and is using each for my good! Often, I pray for relief - for God to stop the storm and waves. But He is in control of the storm, and perhaps it would be a greater testimony of His grace and power to carry us through than to calm the waves.
- God loves his children and desires to pour out blessings on us {Luke 11:13, Matt. 7:11] All of His actions are motivated by unconditional love towards us. Yet, even hardships point us back to Christ' sacrifice and allow us to see more of His nature and character. Suffering unifies us as believers and with Christ.
- For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. {Jer. 29:11}
- For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. {1 Cor 13:12}
Evaluation: May we run the race well!
- {Jesus Christ} who shall confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. {1 Cor 1:8}
- And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. {I Jn. 2:28}
- ...It doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure. {1 Jn. 3:2}
- But as it is, He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. {Heb. 9: 26b-28}
Rationale & Source: God's Word
- Well done, thou good and faithful servant... {Matt. 25:21}
- Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. {Jam 1:3}
- In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory {1 Pet. 1:6-8}
- Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. {Rom 5:3-5}
and this... is what it actually looks like most of the time when I write care plans... :)