Making Plans

Upon my retirement, I determined to be available in the community to help in times of emergencies, natural disaster, shootings, etc. One of my first steps was to contact the Fort Bend Office of Emergency Management. They suggested that I attend a faith and disaster conference that requires me to complete a FEMA training course as a prerequisite to registration. After study, I passed the final exam and received a certificate from the FEMA Emergency Management Institute for Introduction to Incident Command System (ICS).

The ICS was born out of ineffective crisis management in past emergency events. There were FOUR disappointing results of failed crisis management: Lack of accountability, poor communications, unsystematic planning, and the inability to efficiently integrate responders into their roles. ICS counts on each responder to take personal accountability for their own actions. Further, ICS clarifies who is in charge by appointing the Incident Commander who directs the entire event. Everyone responds to this one Commander - his word supercedes all others.

Being a preacher, I immediately saw the need we have for God to be our Incident Commander! If we allow Him to direct our steps, we will succeed. If not, failure and disappointment will prevail. Isn't it interesting that when we do not give God His proper role in our lives, we suffer from the same four maladies listed above. So often we miss the best because we refuse to hear from the Lord. We make our own decisions, and then ask God to bless them, or to at least keep them from destroying us!

The wise Believer decides that God is a better Planner than we are. The words of Jeremiah 29:11 should cause us to stop stealing command away from God: "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."

Do you have any thoughts about the Leadership of God? Please share with me and we can all grow together.