SOLT Ministries

Plan of Life: Process

The Plan of Life is a process by which you discover the way God has been forming you all through your life. Having this information handy, you understand every experience or situation you face from this perspective. Principles

Nothing happens accidentally, but everything is gifted providentially
Since everything is in the plan of God for me, everything has purpose
God created man and woman in His own image and likeness
To the one who is given much, much will be expected
God created us as unique individuals

Stage one - Discovery

List your experiences (0-5, 5-10, 10-15, 15-20, 20-25, 25-30, etc.). At the start don't be worried about remembering all you experiences. Write only those you remember. You could sometimes only remember vaguely a person, situation or incident, but nothing more. Just write these down.
Each of these experiences may have multiple incidents that make up these experiences. Amplify these experiences into distinct happenings, occurrences, etc.
From these incidents, did you learn anything? Is there some lesson that God was trying to teach you? At that time you may have not recognized these lessons, but looking in hind sight, you realize these lessons. A lesson is a quality, virtue, talent, gift that God wishes to give us. The plan of life is in His mind. And He continues to form us according to this plan.
Look for those qualities, virtues, etc., that seem to repeat through the years through various experiences or situations. Find connecting words that sort of relate to the others.
Keep adding to your experiences and the lessons you have learnt, in an on-going process. As you go through your life's experiences, you will slowly begin to experience the healing process. This will enable you to see and understand many more experiences in your life. Often those insignificant experiences, have many lessons to teach us. All depends on the student and his/her openness when it comes to learning. For the teacher is God himself. The instruments He uses are varied. The disciple must ask, seek and knock.

Stage two - Confirmation

Joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries of your life:
Place the lessons you learnt from these experiences on the sides of a triangle. You could also take the fifteen mysteries of the holy rosary and see what attracts you, or what challenges you the most. Could be you could think of those qualities you want people around you to imitate. Apply these to yourself.
Trials, temptations and persecutions.
Scripture texts that you are familiar with, that impressed you as you attended prayer meetings, listened to sermons, are attracted to, etc.:
Make a habit to study the Word of God. There are 72 book in the Bible. Get a notebook and devote two pages to each book. Every time you read the book, or a quotation from that book, write down the reference in your notebook. Look to see what it is that God is teaching you through these scripture texts.

Stage three - Spirituality Developing a plan of action:
Having recognized the lessons the Lord was teaching you throughout your life, you consciously now seek to develop these qualities and virtues. God desires to give us all the graces, gifts and blessings we need. But we need to express our desire and give our consent. Draw a circle, and think of all the people you live with, work with, play with, etc. Now consider all their defects, or those things you would like to improve in them. Also see the good qualities, virtues that you see in everyone. Now you apply these findings to you. For your brother and sister is the mirror in which you see yourself. How do I know that I have a good grasp of my plan of life? And how do I know that the process is well on its way? As I go along everyday of my life, I recognize the lessons the Lord wishes to teach me in each and every one of these experiences, situation, etc. If I stumble on situations that I cannot understand, but all they do is leave me anxious, disturbed, irritated, frustrated and confused, etc., then there is something in my past that is not yet resolved. I begin to use every situation, even my mistakes, sins, failings, small victories, etc., to grow to become that person the Lord wants me to be.