Plan Good to Find Love

This week, we are learning about how we can do good to those around us. This is a continuation of my series, Thriving in God's Garden, which is based on Galatians 5:22.

Life coaches recommend making plans.
Most of us are searching for ways to find happiness, success, and love. Life coaches often advise that we set goals and then make plans to help us reach our goals. In doing so, we fast-forward ourselves to achieving our dreams.

Proverbs 14:22 (NIV) supports this theory, but it also includes a warning. It reads, Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.

Our plans must be good ones.
Making plans can propel us toward our dreams, but if we plan to do evil, we cannot expect blessings. Osama bin Laden plotted evil to kill innocent people through terrorism. As a result, he was hunted down and killed. Many people associated with him, including his family members, are suffering as a result of his evil goals.

While we are working toward our goals, we must find ways to give goodness to others. In my case, if I set a goal to sell a million copies of my latest novel, I must make sure that it benefits others in some way. I'm hoping that survivors of abuse and trauma will find Among the Ashes entertaining, as well as insightful. However, I have also decided to donate a percentage of all my book profits to organizations that help abused women and children.

I cannot step on others' toes or take advantage of people just to sell more books. At every turn, I must think of giving away good as much as I look forward to receiving blessings from my plans.

Today's Challenge
What goals have you set for yourself? Do your plans bring you closer to God? Do they benefit others? Will your goals help you to find love and faithfulness? If not, look for ways to revise your plans so that they will bring about good for everyone involved.

Among the Ashes is coming soon!
Cheryl Denton's mystery thriller about a young woman suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder is in production and will be ready for distribution this summer. It will be available in paperback, as well as e-book versions.