Prayer for the Plans of the Spirit

Do you want to be a person after God’s heart, doing only what He says to do? Do you want to carry out God’s strategies exactly, neither adding nor taking away anything away from them? If so, then pray for the plans of the Spirit today!

Here’s the backstory:

In the Bible, King David was given the plans of the Spirit for building what would become Solomon’s Temple.

We read this story in 1 Chronicles 28 and 29. In these chapters, David told all Israel that he had wanted to build a temple for God, but that the Lord told him he could not. The Lord told him that Solomon (David’s son) would have to build the temple because David was a man of war.

However, the Lord did allow David to make the preparations for the temple to be built. David gathered all the materials for its construction, such as gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, marble, and jewels. (See 1 Chronicles 29:2.)

But when I was reading this today, I noticed something I hadn’t remembered seeing before:

David also received the exact plans, blueprints, and strategies for the temple from God’s Holy Spirit Himself.

This is absolutely amazing to me. Look at these two short passages:

“Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat; and the plans for all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, of all the chambers all around, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries for the dedicated things;

also for the division of the priests and the Levites, for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord, and for all the articles of service in the house of the Lord” (1 Chronicles 28:11-13 NKJV, emphasis mine).

Also, look at 1 Chronicles 28:19:

“‘All this,’ said David, ‘the Lord made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans’” (1 Chronicles 28:19 NKJV).

From these two passages, we see three major things about the plans of the Spirit for Solomon’s temple:

• The plans of the Spirit were given to David, the man after God’s own heart–even though David himself was not going to be able to carry out the work.
• The plans of the Spirit were comprehensive and detailed.
• And the Lord made David understand His plans in writing, by His hand upon David.

Beloved, that hits me hard–and it should hit you hard too. Why? Three reasons:

Reason 1: You and I are also God’s friends, just like David was.

John 15:13-15 says this:

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you” (John 15:13-15 NKJV).

Jesus calls you and me His friends if we do whatever He commands us. So even though David was a man after God’s own heart, you and I can be just as close. We who once were far off have been brought near to God by the blood of Jesus, as it says in Ephesians 2:13:

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13 NKJV).

Also …

Reason 2: You and I are also kings and priests unto God, just like David was.

We read that we are kings and priests unto God in Revelation 1:4-6, which says:

“John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.

To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 1:4-6 NKJV, emphasis mine).

And 1 Peter 2:9 tells us that we are both royal and priests as well:

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10 NKJV).

David was in a position where he wanted and needed to receive God’s plans for His own worship in His own kingdom (the kingdoms of Judah and Israel). So, God gave him those plans.

But, you know what? You and I are also kings and priests unto God. We are ambassadors for God–ambassadors of the Kingdom of Heaven–on the earth. And therefore, in that position of authority and rulership, you and I also need to know what the plans of the Spirit are for the world between our own two feet.

Reason 3: God is no respecter of persons. If He made David to understand the plans of the Spirit–in writing, no less–then He will do the same for you and for me.

In Romans 2:11, the Bible says:

“For there is no partiality with God” (Romans 2:11 NKJV).

Therefore, you and I can approach God with the same confidence that David had–and more. You and I are hidden in Christ, sons and daughters and servants of the Most High God. We know Jesus Christ personally. And since our highest desire is also to do the will of God, worshipping Him in Spirit and in truth, we can boldly approach Him to receive His plans–and He will give them to us.

As it says in Hebrews 4:16:

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV).

And also in Psalm 32:8:

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you.

Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him” (Psalm 32:8-10 NKJV).

And even in the book of James:

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:2-8 NKJV).

Therefore, beloved, if you need to know the plans of the Spirit, God will give them to you.

He is no respecter of persons. What He did for David, He will do for you:

• He gave David His comprehensive, detailed plans for the Temple–and He will do the same for whatever He has asked you to do and build.
• He gave David understanding, making David to understand all the workings of what to do–and He will also make you to understand what to do, right here, right now, and how it will all work out.
• He gave David His plans in writing, and He will also give you His plans for you, and for what you should do, in writing.
• And as He made David to understand His plans by putting His hand upon David, so He will also make you to understand His plans by placing His hand upon you (which is a wonderful thing to experience).

Thank You, Abba Father!

So what do you need to build or do today, friend?

Seek God about it in faith! Claim all these amazing things for yourself that His Word shows us He will do:

• Ask Him to download His plans for you, and for what you should do, into your heart and spirit.
• Ask Him to give you understanding.
• Claim the promises I listed above, in which the Lord promises to instruct you, teach you, and give you His wisdom.
• And do all of these things with a pen in hand, for the Lord is ready to tell you His plans in writing!

Are you ready to pray? Let’s pray as follows for the plans of the Spirit:

“Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You in Jesus’ name.

Abba Father, I thank You that Your mercies are new every day. Thank You for allowing me to come boldly before the throne of grace, where I may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayers, and thank You for being the Source and the Fount of all wisdom. I praise You for that, Father.

But oh, Lord God, I need You right now.

You have called me and commissioned me. You have ordained my life and my steps. And Your Word says that You will give me wisdom if I ask You for it (James 1:5-8). Your Word also says that You will instruct me and teach me in the way that I should go, and that You will guide me with Your eye upon me (Psalm 32:8).

Lord, I know You’ve called me to go. But, I don’t know which way to go, or what to do.

You have called me to act; to build; to serve; and to move forward and make disciples of all nations. You have ordained me to serve Your Kingdom; to sit at Your feet and do all the things You have planned for my life.

But, Abba Father, I need You to show me the way. I do not know where to go or what to do unless You show me, and I have a holy fear of moving too fast and getting out of Your perfect will. I only want to please You, Father, and to do the work that You have given me to do.

Therefore, Father, in Jesus’ name, I ask humbly today for the plans of the Spirit:

• I ask in Jesus’ name that You would show me what Your plans are, so that I would do exactly what You have in mind–nothing more and nothing less.
• Please, help me not to try to make anything happen in the flesh that is not of You.
• Help me to hear Your voice clearly as You describe all of Your plans to me.
• As You did for David, please help me to understand in writing, by Your hand upon me, what all the works of Your plans are.
• Help me to write down Your plans accurately, without adding or taking away anything. Help me to hear, understand, and write exactly what You say–nothing more and nothing less.

O Holy Father, I sit in awe and fear of You.

Be to me my Architect, my Commissioner, my Sender, my Rearguard, and my Foreguard today. Show Yourself to me as my Provider, my Source, my Wisdom, and my Inheritance. Give me the plans of Your Spirit, and keep through Your name the plans that You have given me to do.

Lord God of Heaven and earth, I also pray in Jesus’ name that You would provide easily and quickly for all the plans of the Spirit that You desire me to carry out:

• Provide all the funding we need to carry out the plans of the Spirit, just as You provided from Your own resources for David to fund the building of the temple.
• Let Your provision come easily and quickly, I pray, in Jesus’ name.
• Do for us by Your grace what we could never even do by our work.
• Help me to rest in You and keep my eyes on You while You provide.
• And I ask in Jesus’ name that You would provide for us exceedingly abundantly above and beyond all we could ask, hope, dream, or think, so that we can do Your work under Your grace and anointing.

Abba Father, Lord Jesus, and Holy Spirit: I humbly confess that I can do nothing without You–but that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Please give me strength of every kind for this work, so that I will be able to carry out all the plans of the Spirit.

And Abba, I ask humbly that You would keep through Your name that which You have given me, and us, to do:

• Make us like You.
• Help us to maintain a loyal heart that cleaves to You, both as we complete this work and all the days of our lives.
• Help me to keep my nose in Your back, Lord Jesus, and to follow You without wavering.
• Help us to hear Your voice behind us, saying, “This is the way; walk in it,” and help us to obey You without turning to the right or to the left.

Thank You, Abba Father. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. I have asked You to download to me the plans of the Spirit, and I believe You will. Help me to obey everything You show me, and make me a good and faithful steward of Your plans and dreams for Your Kingdom.

Thank You, Holy Father. I give You the praise and glory. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen and amen.”

O beloved. We each need Jesus’ help every day to do anything, but especially to carry out the blueprints, strategies, and plans of the Spirit.

Will you approach Him in faith today, asking Him to show you what to do–and believing that He will? If so, leave a comment below!