I am a planner at heart, and I am a very practical person. I am constantly planning something as a co-vocational pastor and small business owner.

I plan worship services. I plan investment portfolios. I have a written planner that I write all my tasks in each day, and it gives me great pleasure to check each task off as I complete it. I plan the future for myself and for others to obtain desired results.

The Master Key System, Part Three discusses the role of our Solar Plexus (sun center) in bringing thought into reality. Imagine my pastor and business surprise when I read this in The Master Key System, Part Three, number 13.

“It is evident, therefore, that all we have to do is let our light shine; the more energy we can radiate, the more rapidly shall we be enabled to transmute undesirable conditions into sources of pleasure and profit.”

Charles Haanel, The Master Key System, 3:13

Immediately these verses from Matthew 5:15-17 came to mind –

“Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:15-17

Yes! Letting my light shine produces good deeds and glorifies God.

There is more though. Letting my light shine produces sources of pleasure and profit? Like the pleasure I get from checking off tasks each day? Like the business profit I spend hours each day planning for? This is all pretty mind-blowing.

I kept reading. And then I went from being surprised to being amazed, because there it is in The Master Key System, Part Three, number 27:

“When making a practical application of this principle…You are simply to say what you desire, not how you are to obtain it.”

Charles Haanel, The Master Key System, 3:27

This does not sound very practical to my planner mind at all. I am used to carefully planning how I am to obtain something, before I will allow myself to desire it.

But the Bible confirms this – King David in Psalm 37:4 –

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:4

And also in Psalm 20:4 –

“May he [the Lord] give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.”

Psalm 20:4

Here’s how I can resolve this, as I know it has been true in my life. I let my light shine (tell the Lord my desire), and I leave it up to him to reveal how it is to happen. Then I can make the plans, and of course they will succeed, as the Lord is in it. This will immensely change my life.