Proverbs 21:30 (NLT) No human wisdom or understanding or plan can stand against the LORD.
Psalm 33:11 (NLT) But the LORD’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.
Proverbs 16:9 (NLT) We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.
James 4:13-17 (NLT) Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like a morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil. Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
Fall seems to be the ultimate Planning Season of our lives. Planning for the holidays, planning family gatherings, planning meals, planning parties, and making resolutions as we are planning for the coming new year. Do these scriptures mean we shouldn’t be making plans? Of course not. If you read the James passage closely, you realize the error is in planning for self-gain. In fact, failure comes in not doing what we know we should do. The whole point of these verses, at least in my mind and in my heart, is that when I make plans—daily, seasonal, yearly, long-range—I should be doing so with the clear understanding that God has ultimate control and his plans may differ from mine. What it tells me, is that before making any plans I should be prayerful and have confidence that what I plan to do is in line with those things that are right and good according to God’s Word; things that will ultimately bring honor and glory to God through my life.
So how does all this work in the everyday nitty gritty of life? Well, I’m pretty sure God would want me to keep a clean home, and although I’m fairly good at that, there is still plenty of room for improvement. When I make plans to spend time on cleaning projects that’s the right thing to do. I’m confident God has given me a modest talent for writing and when I make plans to spend time in that activity, I’m sure I’m making a good choice with the ultimate goal being to honor God. I know beyond doubt that God wants us to encourage one another, so making plans to write, call, text, or visit someone is also something that is a good plan. God wants me to take care of myself, so I know plans for future medical appointments are part of a worthy long-range plan. Finally, I need to remember that God’s ways are greater than my ways and his thoughts far beyond my own. I need to be ready and willing to obey whenever my plans are interrupted by some new or different plan or opportunity God places before me.
Gracious Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving us clear instructions and guidelines in your Word. Remind us that what you have planned for us comes first over any of our own plans. Guide us in making those personal plans that are in line with your will for us as a faithful Christian. Grant us a ready, willing, and obedient spirit to seek you first in all that we think, say, and do; and to complete the tasks and opportunities you provide.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Proverbs 16:3 (NLT) Commit your actions to the LORD and your plans will succeed.
The devotional Plans for Making Plans appeared first on Write From My Heart at
https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com
Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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