Power, Principles & A Plan

How God Moves You From Belief to Action

A Christian Outreach Center Blog

There are three things that can radically change the direction of your life:

Power. Principles. Plan.

God never intended for us to simply believe something and remain in the same place. Our relationship with Him should produce power within us, His wisdom should give us principles to live by, and eventually we need a plan that moves us into action.

1. POWER — It Starts From Within

The greatest power in our lives comes from knowing God and accepting Jesus Christ into our lives.

It is personal.

It starts within.

Before God changes what is around you, He often begins changing what is inside you.

Your thinking changes.

Your desires change.

Your perspective changes.

Your strength begins to come from somewhere deeper than circumstances.

Jesus told His disciples:

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” — Acts 1:8

Real power is not simply money, influence, intelligence, position, or popularity.

Real power begins when God becomes real to you personally.

You begin understanding who He is.

You begin discovering who you are in Christ.

And you begin developing an internal strength that circumstances cannot easily take away.

Paul said:

“Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” — Ephesians 6:10

That is where everything begins.

Power comes from God.

2. PRINCIPLES — Learn How God Designed Life to Work

Principles are laws, rules, truths, and frameworks that help us experience what we believe.

You can have faith and still need wisdom.

You can pray and still need discipline.

You can believe God for financial stability and still need to manage money properly.

You can pray for a strong marriage and still need communication.

You can pray for success and still need consistency.

You can pray for opportunity and still need preparation.

You can ask God for growth and still need humility.

Principles give structure to power.

Scripture says:

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” — Proverbs 4:7

God does not only want us inspired.

He wants us wise.

The more principles we understand, the better equipped we become to properly steward what God places in our hands.

Power gives you ability. Principles teach you how to use it.

3. PLAN — Turn Belief Into Action

Then comes the plan.

A plan is where belief begins becoming execution.

You can know God.

You can understand principles.

But eventually you have to decide:

What am I going to do next?

God has always been strategic.

When Israel faced Jericho, God gave Joshua specific instructions.

They were to march around the city once a day for six days. On the seventh day they were to march around it seven times, the priests would blow the trumpets, the people would shout, and the walls would fall.

God had the power to bring the walls down immediately.

But He still gave them a strategy.

There was power, but there was also a plan.

David Had Faith — And He Picked Up Stones

David believed that God would deliver Goliath into his hands.

But David did not walk onto the battlefield empty-handed.

The Bible says:

“And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook…” — 1 Samuel 17:40

David had faith.

David had courage.

David had anointing.

But David also had preparation.

He selected his stones.

He carried his sling.

Then he walked toward the giant.

Sometimes we are asking God to defeat something while He is asking us:

What have you put in your hand?

Faith and preparation are not enemies.

They belong together.

Moses Had a Staff

When God called Moses, Moses was concerned about what he lacked.

But God asked him a powerful question:

“What is that in thine hand?” — Exodus 4:2

Moses answered:

“A rod.”

God began using what Moses already possessed.

Sometimes we spend so much time looking for something new that we overlook what God has already placed in our hands.

Your experience may be your staff.

Your education may be your staff.

Your relationships may be your staff.

Your gift may be your staff.

Your story may be your staff.

Your opportunity may already be sitting in your hand.

A Dream Without a Plan Can Become a Delusion

This is where we have to become honest with ourselves.

A person can talk about a dream for ten years and never move toward it.

“One day I’m going to start the business.”

“One day I’m going back to school.”

“One day I’m going to write the book.”

“One day I’m going to get healthy.”

“One day I’m going to repair that relationship.”

“One day…”

Eventually, “one day” needs a date.

A person without goals, strategy, and action can begin confusing intention with progress.

Thinking about something is not building it.

Talking about something is not executing it.

Wanting something badly does not automatically move you closer to it.

Scripture says:

“The heart of man deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” — Proverbs 16:9

Notice both parts.

Man plans. God directs.

Planning does not mean we do not trust God.

We make our plans humbly, remain sensitive to His direction, and allow Him to adjust our steps.

Put All Three Together

This is where life begins becoming intentional.

POWER

I know God.

My strength comes from Him.

My relationship with Jesus Christ transforms me from within.

PRINCIPLES

I learn God’s wisdom.

I understand the laws, truths, and disciplines that help me properly navigate life.

PLAN

I take the assignment, develop a strategy, set goals, and execute.

Now faith becomes movement.

Vision becomes structure.

Ideas become goals.

Goals become actions.

Actions, consistently repeated, begin producing results.

Stop Confusing Inspiration With Progress

You can leave church inspired every Sunday and never change your life.

You can listen to motivational messages every day and remain exactly where you are.

You can have notebooks filled with ideas and never execute one of them.

Inspiration is powerful.

But inspiration was never meant to replace execution.

At some point you have to make the call.

Fill out the application.

Start the business.

Create the budget.

Have the conversation.

Go to the gym.

Write the first page.

Make the appointment.

Develop the ministry.

Build the team.

Take the first step.

God can give you the power.

His Word can give you the principles.

But eventually you have to walk out the plan.

The COC Challenge

Ask yourself three questions:

Where is my POWER coming from?

Am I developing a real personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ?

What PRINCIPLES do I need to learn?

What wisdom, discipline, or understanding is missing from my life?

What is my PLAN?

What practical steps am I going to take with what God has placed in my heart?

Don’t just dream about your future.

Don’t just pray about your future.

Don’t just talk about your future.

Partner with God and start building it.

Power gives you strength.

Principles give you wisdom.

A plan gives you direction.

And when all three come together, you move from simply believing something is possible to actually taking the steps necessary to see it become reality.

Know God.
Learn the principles.
Develop the plan.
Execute the assignment.
Trust God with the results.