Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”
God has a plan for your life and God knows more about your life than you do. Over the years as a minister, I have counseled with hundreds of people planning for the ministry.
It’s amazing to me that most of the time people will give me their plan for their life and ask me to agree with them that God will bless their plan. This is not God’s best. We should always seek His plan for our lives and then the plan is already blessed.
Jesus said that He didn’t do anything unless the Father had told Him to do it first. He also said that He never said anything unless the Father had spoken it first. Our lives would be greatly enhanced if we would just do as Jesus did. His plan was to be obedient to the Father’s plan for His life.
Once a man sat in my office and told me of all the great things that he had planned for his ministry. When he was done, he sat back in the chair with a look of great satisfaction and smugness on his face. He had just presented to me a wonderful plan that would have really made him look great in the eyes of the Christian world.
I saw his countenance change as I made this statement to him. I said, “That sounds like a great plan, but has God told you to do it?” He slumped and shook his head no.
Sadly, many times in the ministry this is the case. We watch others and we try to duplicate what they are doing, only bigger.
We must understand this. God’s rewards only come from doing God’s plan. If we do our plan instead of His, no matter how great the results, we have received our reward already.
“Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward” (Matt. 6:2).
Excerpt permission granted by Larry Ollison Ministries
Dr. Larry Ollison is founder and Senior Pastor of Walk on the Water Faith Church and founder of Larry Ollison Ministries. With over forty years in the ministry, he is a very popular speaker nationally and internationally and ministers the Word of Faith through radio, television, Internet, and daily e-mail devotionals. As the author of twelve books (including The Power of Grace, The Practical Handbook for Christian Living, Breaking the Cycle of Offense, Life is in the Blood, and recently released The Paradise of God), he is in frequent demand for radio/TV interviews, book signings, and magazine publications.
Dr. Ollison was raised a Southern Baptist. While majoring in theology at Southwest Baptist University, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many years he traveled extensively speaking at Full Gospel Business Men's meetings and conventions. He later earned an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. and Th.D. from Life Christian University.
Currently President of International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM), Dr. Ollison is also Vice-President of Spirit FM Christian Radio Network, Missouri State Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and a Trustee on the boards of several international ministries. He is also the host of The Cutting Edge Radio Broadcast and authors The Cutting Edge Daily Devotional.
As the owner of a marine dealership, his extensive business background brings a unique flavor to his teaching. He founded and served as chairman of the Missouri State Marine Board, President of the Marine Dealers’ Association, Vice-President of a bank holding company, along with holding several directorships in various corporations.
Dr. Ollison's strongest areas of teaching are the blood of Jesus, faith, relationships, the Hebrew language, the Holy Spirit, the end times, and heaven. During ministry, he operates freely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. His use of humor and his ability to make a theological concept simple makes it enjoyable and easy for everyone to understand. Countless testimonies have been received from people who say their lives have been changed after experiencing Dr. Ollison's unique ministry.
Dr. Ollison is a pastor, pilot, teacher, and author. His number one goal is to meet the needs of the people through the teaching of faith in God's Word. He and his wife, Loretta, have two children and six grandchildren.