I want to thank Lysa TerKeurst of the Proverbs 31 ministry for allowing us to post her article on our site. This is an excellent message that applies to all aspects of your life, not just money. I have applied it to my life and have seen many blessings because of it!

I woke up the other Saturday morning to the most beautiful sound. My three girls were upstairs laughing as they shared little girls secrets, tickled each other, and enjoyed all being together in one bed. They were unaffected at that time of the morning by schedules, homework, and chores. They were spontaneously enjoying life, enjoying being together.

I wondered when in the process of changing from a child into an adult is the point where many of us lose our laughter and excitement about life. When is it that some of us stopped being amazed by sunrises and sunsets, rainbows, blooming flowers, butterflies and the many other miracles of God that surround us each day. Most of us would have loved to have been present when God parted the Red Sea, fed the five thousand, and made the walls of Jericho fall just from the shouts of His people. Would those miracles have astounded us, or would we have missed them in the midst of busy schedules and over stretched budgets?

Life itself is mysterious, miraculous, and filled with beauty. In finding our purpose as faithful stewards we must remember who it is that has entrusted us with the time and resources that we have been given. We must remember to take time to praise our Master for the miracles that surround us each day and trust Him to provide for us just as He does for every part of His creation. Schedules, budgets, investments, and paying the bills are all part of life but they should never replace our dependence on God. Replace the worry you feel about your finances with responsible planning and a dependence on God.

Matthew 6: 31- 34 (LB) says, "So don't worry about having enough food and clothing. Why be like the heathen? For they take pride in all these things and are deeply concerned about them. But your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, and will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to. So don't be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time."

Regarding this Scripture, The Life Application Bible commentary says, "Planning for tomorrow is time well spent; worrying about tomorrow is time wasted. Sometimes it's difficult to tell the difference. Careful planning is thinking ahead about goals, steps, and schedules, and trusting in God's guidance. When done well it can alleviate worry. The worrier is consumed by fear and finds it difficult to trust God. The worrier lets his plans interfere with his relationship with God. Don't let worries about tomorrow affect your relationship with God today".

So how do we get past all the worrying and onto effective planning? I believe the answer is in developing a plan bathed in prayer and based on Scripture. Writing out a Life Plan will help you not just get a better handle on your time and money but live every area of your life on purpose. To get started, list each of the principle roles of your life. I listed being a child of God, a wife, a mother, a keeper of my home, a faithful steward of the time and money entrusted to me, a friend, and a servant to those in my church and community ( Based on The Seven Principles of the Proverbs 31 Woman). Under each area I wrote out a plan to help me keep my priorities straight and my schedule manageable. Using the word purpose, I developed an acrostic to help structure each of the seven sections of my plan.

Remember God's miracles are all around you reminding that He will take care of you and that He is in control. Your part is to effectively plan so you don't spend so much time worrying. I pray you rediscover the lost art of waking up with giggles and smiles, unaffected by the pressures of life and full of the blessed assurance of a child whose Father knows well all your needs and who will provide.

Lysa TerKeurst is a wife, mother of three daughters, and author of the book Living Life on Purpose and the accompanying bible study, The Life Planning Journal for Women published by Moody Press. Lysa is the vice president of The Proverbs 31 Ministry. She is one of the voices behind the ministry's national radio program as well as a feature writer for The Proverbs 31 Woman monthly newsletter and speaks all over the country at women's conferences and retreats. She has been on numerous national TV and radio programs and this month can be heard on Focus on the Family's "Renewing the Heart" radio program.

For more information on The Proverbs 31 Ministry or to order Lysa's books call toll free 1-877-731-4663 or write to P.O. Box 17155 Charlotte, N.C. 28227.