Plan, Work, Pray

New year, new storms, same question: how do we find joy? Sher and Cydni take a page from General Patton—yes, the tough-as-nails WWII general—and his three-step formula: Plan. Work. Pray. From battlefield weather prayers to everyday chaos, we explore how preparation, effort, and faith can turn life’s storms into victories…with a little humor along the way.  This episode is, "Plan, Work, Pray" and we are so glad you are here! 

This Week's Challenge
Make a plan, put in the effort, and invite God into what you can’t control.

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Show Notes

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Transcript

Plan, Work, Pray

Cydni: [00:00:00] Can you believe it is just about to be 2026? No, I can't. , How did this happen? Where, how, why, when? I don't know. But I will tell you, I wrote when I was signing paperwork for snowboarding gear, I wrote the year 2012 He said, sorry, ma'am, I believe that year is wrong. And I looked at it and I laughed out loud and then I thought, wait, isn't that when the Mayan calendar ended and the world was supposed to end?

And then I thought, empty promises. Here we are still going. but this is our year, Sher welcome to the Cydni and Sher podcast.

Sher: This year Cydni, we have been learning about happiness and joy, and we have learned that God wants us to be happy. Now, we've also learned that he's not just gonna reign happiness down on our heads like we wish would happen. 

Cydni: I'm still holding out for that. I'm gonna be honest. I know we've studied it and we've learned about the desert a lot, [00:01:00] but still. I'm just holding out a little bit of hope that maybe it might happen. Yeah. Even though everything we've learned is that trials and difficult times are actually what brings us joy in the long run. I'm still holding out on just like an easy path of like winning the lottery and everything being a breeze. 

Sher: too. But we have learned this last year, this is something that we actually have to work for. And as we finish this Christmas week and prepare to enter a new year, we want to continue to focus on Christ. And we also want to work on improving ourselves because this will give us the best chance of having joy in this life if we focus on those two things, Christ, and improving ourselves each and every day.

Cydni: I did actually just think the most accurate illustration of this is how hard I worked for my children's Christmas and how happy they were because of my hard work. So. That's nice. It's, see, it works. If you work hard, other people will be really happy. Also, Ben worked really [00:02:00] hard, so good job, Ben. We're all happy.

Are you happy? I'm so exhausted. The holidays do tend to do that, right? I'm seven pounds heavier and I'm tired. I love this time of year.

Sher: Merry Christmas everyone. Merry Christmas, happy New Year, blah, blah, blah. Alright, Cydni, we are going to focus today on first planning to help us keep organized and focused.

Second, working to keep us moving forward. And third, praying. This will give us strength and fill in the gaps where we fall short and align us with God's will when we combine all three. with our effort and positive choices, this helps increase our chances for happiness. And this is what God wants for all of us.

We are all his children, and he wants to see us put forth that effort and improvement because He knows this is what will bring us happiness and most importantly, bring us back home to him so we will [00:03:00] be even happier.

Cydni: And before we get going too far, the. Inspiration of the planning and working and praying comes from a history lesson that Sher's like, let's do something crazy and end the share on history lessons. And I was like, that's wild. Nobody will see that coming. But I love so much when I was learning about this from General George S Patton, that he said there's three ways. To get things done. You plan, you work and you pray. Those are the three ways to get anything done in this world, and I love it so much because when we have studied joy and happiness this year, there's so many studies out there that have been this lifelong. study of these men, this decade long study of this and they come to the same conclusion, they come to the same things bring joy. Even if they spend thousands and millions of dollars on trying to figure out how can we be happy, how can we be joyful? It's always comes down [00:04:00] to faith and family and friends and work that serves.

We have seen that over and over, but what I loved about this is this is just a good old man out there who has come to the same conclusion, and how did he come to this conclusion? After pondering on it, I believe it's his third suggestion. I believe it's because he stays close to his maker and he prays, he communicates and he walks with God, and because of that, his mind has been enlightened to the ways of actual joy.

Sher: Cydni. I love that you just made my history heart so happy.. I'm so proud of you right now. That was my late Christmas gift to you. Thank you. I could not have asked for anything better and more real and more true. That was it right there. Thank you. 

Cydni: I think I'm just gonna stop instead of saying anything snarky right now. I'm just gonna try something new. I'm gonna be quiet. 

Sher: Oh, that's weird. 

Cydni: All right, let's continue. Okay. 

Sher: Also, I'm just gonna add General Patton is not known for his easygoing nature. He's known as being tough and gruff and [00:05:00] get things done, and he has a very foul mouth that is General Patton, but I love this story because it shows that even though he did have that hardcore military, I'm gonna kick your butt and everybody's butt that goes with it. He has this side of him where just as you said, he knows. His foundation is built on solid ground. It is faith-based and he is tied in with God. He knows that in order to get anything done, the most important piece is to pray. 

So Our story today, Cydni is gonna start in November of 1944. World War II is going to be over in 1945, and this is the winter. Just before patton in November had completed all of his preparation for the next battle. He then turned to the Bible and entrusted everything, including the weather to God. His diary says on November 7th, 1944. Two years ago today we were on Augusta approaching Africa, [00:06:00] and it was blowing hard.

Then about 1600 it stopped. It is now raining hard. I hope that stops too, know of nothing more I can do to prepare for this attack except to read the Bible and pray at 1900 Eddie and Grow Came to the house to beg me to call off the attack due to the bad weather. Heavy rains and swollen rivers. I told them the attack would go on.

I am sure it will succeed. On November 7th, 1942, there was a storm, but it stopped at 1600 all day. The 9th of July, 1943, there was a storm. It cleared at dark. I know the Lord will help us again. Either he will give us good weather or the bad weather will hurt the Germans more than it does us. His will be done.

His faith. Cydni what an example. I love this side of General Patton. He had that. Let's get it done. [00:07:00] Attitude combined with this strong faith. You know, honestly, no wonder the United States won World War II with generals like that. 

Cydni: I know we need more men that are so stubborn to be that stubborn in their faith. And by men I also mean myself probably. I'm pretty stubborn. I got that down. Just maybe we need to work on the faith 

Sher: part. I mean, every day. Yeah. Same. I, and when I said that, I truly meant both of us. We both, no, you didn't need to. Didn't she 

Cydni: just handed me a Bible and said, read this. She mouthed the words. Read this, you sinner. 

Sher: Trust me. That did not happen. That finger is pointed directly at myself. All right, so the result of this battle in November of 1944 is known as the SAR offensive. I don't know if that's how you say it. 

Cydni: Nobody else knows either, so you can say it however you want. 

Sher: Okay, so it was launched on November 8th, 1944, and when it was over Patton's third Army. Freed 873 towns and over 1600 square miles. This was a huge success and this [00:08:00] is because he was prepared. He had a plan. He worked, he made sure his men were ready and that they had all worked hard to get to this point, and then he prayed and he trusted in God that his efforts would pay off.

Like I said, it worked. And this brings us to the next battle, which is a very famous battle called The Battle of the Bulge, which there's so many jokes there with the Battle of the Bulge. 

Cydni: I know I was going to continue the being quiet part where I just tried to not say everything that comes to my mind. I'm a new woman in 2026. 

Sher: You're throwing my groove off. I was just waiting for you to say something. That one's too easy. Okay. The bold. Okay, we'll just move on there. , So this was in December of 1944, so a month later. General Patton planned, and then he planned again. His soldiers were prepared. They were ready. They were focused. The officers were focused. They were organized and ready with the plans and the orders, the officers and the soldiers had worked for this moment. Since [00:09:00] 1941 everyone working together to get the soldiers to , this point. And this includes everyone back home helping with the war effort, all of the American citizens had worked together to get the soldiers, the supplies and weapons that were needed to get to this very point. And then there was a big problem. The weather was not cooperating.

It rained and rained and rained. The crappy weather was giving the Nazis the advantage. So General Patton, knowing he had planned and worked, he decided he needed a lot more prayers than just his own. according to Colonel Paul Harkins, patton's, deputy Chief of Staff, this is what happened on or about the 14th of December, 1944, general Patton called Chaplain O'Neill, third Army Chaplain, and myself into his office.

The conversation went something like this. Patton Chaplain, I want you to publish a prayer for good weather. I'm tired of these soldiers having to fight mud and floods [00:10:00] as well as Germans. See if we can't get God to work on our side. The chaplain, sir, it's going to take a pretty thick rug for that kind of praying.

Patton, I don't care if it takes a flying carpet. I want the praying done. Chaplain. Yes, sir. May I say general, that it usually isn't a customary thing among men of my profession to pray for clear weather, to kill fellow men. Patton responded. Chaplain, are you trying to teach me theology? Are you the chaplain of the third Army?

I want a prayer. The chaplain replied. Yes, sir. Patton then told the chaplain this. I am a strong believer in prayer. There are three ways that men get what they want by planning, by working, and by praying. Any great military operation takes careful planning or thinking. Then you must have a well-trained troops to carry it out.

That's working. But between the plan and the operation, there is always [00:11:00] an unknown. That unknown spells defeat or victory success or failure. It is the reaction of the actors to the ordeal when it actually comes. Some people call that getting the breaks. I call it God. Patent continued. God has been very good to us.

We have never retreated. We have suffered no defeats, no famine, no epidemics. This is because a lot of people back home are praying for us. But we have to pray for ourselves too. A good soldier is not made merely by making him think and work. There is something in every soldier that goes deeper than thinking or working.

We've got to get not only the chaplains, but every man in the third Army to pray. We must ask God to stop these reigns. These reigns are that margin that holds defeat or victory. So with that, the chaplain got to work and the prayer was published on something that looks sort of like a business card. And then Patton gave this [00:12:00] prayer card to every officer in every soldier in the third army and told them to read it and to pray. 

Cydni: Sher. I listened to the story about a dozen times on YouTube, and I feel like you shared it the best. 

Sher: Why are you being so nice? This is kind of creeping me out, Cydni. I'm being 

Cydni: nice and I'm watching what I'm saying. Why do you think that is? Is it 'cause the new year is coming? Is it because I have been so busy that I failed to plan properly? I don't know which one it is. 

Sher: I'm gonna go with, this is just the new Cydni.

Cydni: It'll last for one week. I'll take what I can get old habits. Die hard. Is that, is that a movie? 

Sher: Yeah, it's just a movie, not a thing. Is it a book? 

Sher: Okay. This is what the card said on one side. It said, to each officer and soldier in the third United States Army, I wish a merry Christmas. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We march in our might to complete victory. May God's blessing Rest upon each of you on this Christmas day. [00:13:00] Signed GS Patton Jr. All right, on the other side is the Prayer Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech thee of thy great goodness to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend.

Grant us fair weather for battle. Graciously harken to us as soldiers who call the, that armed with thy power, we may advance from victory to victory and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies, and establish thy justice among men and nations. Amen. That's a good prayer. It's so beautiful. 

And here's the best part, Cydni. These soldiers received this card and they did read it, and they all had it in their pocket. The very next day after the prayer was issued, the weather cleared for several days, giving the third army the time to absolutely crush the last and final Nazi offensive in World War ii.

Patton was so happy with the [00:14:00] results of the whole third army praying that he gave the chaplain the bronze Star for writing such an outstanding prayer.. So as we begin this new year, let's take the lessons taught to us by General Patton. Let's make a plan, prepare, organize, and set goals work.

Let's put in the effort, serve and show up. Pray, seek God's help in the things we cannot control. Allow him to fill the gap of time, chance, our shortcomings and bad weather,

Cydni: what I love so much about this story is that General Patton illustrates in the story how serious he is about planning, working, and prayer. It perfectly illustrates his core belief and I actually laughed out loud that the chaplain said that it was not in his profession to pray for clear weather, to kill fellow men. I thought that was really human. That was funny to me. 

Sher: it's good quality, military history, humor. 

Cydni: It's great. And it shows that he was a good chaplain. He was thinking of all men. [00:15:00] So good for him. He deserved that star.

Sher: Going along with what you said, Cydni, it also shows us that when we do the same thing, when we prepare and work and pray, that we also can have great outcomes.

Cydni: And we see it illustrated in the scriptures over and over. That first we're supposed to study things out and then we pray and then we receive answers. And I couldn't help but think of a time with my son Rock, when he was just a little guy. We were in a hail storm and it was. The size of golf balls and they were pouring out of the sky and they were already terrified of my driving.

So driving in our minivan with those falling on the roof was terrifying. And Iana was just a little baby, and she was screaming. Titus was crying and Rock said, I'm going to say a prayer right now. And as soon as that little boy said, amen.

There was not another hail that fell on our van Titus and Rock remember this happening. And I reflected on this because I thought, you know, in the chaos, in the storms that we've [00:16:00] had this year in 2025 and the chaos that we'll probably have in 2026 in the storms, that there is one who's in charge of all of the storms.

And it reminds me. First of who is in control and just how much He longs for us to talk to Him. And it also brought to mind a pretty famous story of the Spartan warriors. When the Persian soldiers said, our arrows will be so many, it will darken the sun, and Spartan warriors replied. Then we shall fight in the shade. And I thought to myself, can God clear up all of our storms?

He can. Will he always? No. But if we could have the stubbornness and the dedication, that General Patton has, how much better the daily fights will be for us and how much better will our journey to finding joy and happiness in the daily serving of whatever storm we get. We challenge you going into 2026 to rededicate yourself to your own [00:17:00] personal plan, to dedicate yourself to the work that it will require, and to rededicate yourself to God that he can walk with you during your storms.

Sher: This brings us to our final thoughts. Patton's Weather Prayer reminds us of something simple and powerful. God wants us to move forward with confidence. He wants us to plan with purpose, work with courage, and pray With faith, we won't control every storm, but when we're doing all we can and then turning the rest over to him, the path always becomes clearer. So as you look ahead to the new year in front of you, make your plans, show up with your whole heart and invite God into every step He loves you. He's with you and he truly wants you to succeed. This is our prayer 

Cydni: from Cydni and Sher, [00:18:00] and God will clear your storms so your enemies will die. 

 Wow. 

Cydni: Can you believe it is just about 2026? Oh my gosh. Your rage is gonna come out. Oh my gosh. I haven't seen that. Look before. And where this actually comes from is, believe it or not, believe it. Oh my goodness. One more time. Okay. Hold on. Jogging in place. Okay. Well, what are you gonna say? Nothing. You don't have anything? I should show you how bad this looks. Lemme say that one more time. Okay. Right there. It doesn't even make sense. Do you see? I'm not even joking. 

Sher: Have a good week. Bye.