Plans

Proverbs 19:21 ESV

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man (or woman), but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”

We make all kinds of plans, short-range, perhaps for today or tomorrow or next week. Sometimes we make long-range plans like five or ten years. Typically, my day plans fall short of my expectations.

I used to read this verse incorrectly. I was reading that my plans are useless, just let God take control, and that is not terrible, just skewed. What Solomon is saying is, we do not have sufficient data on what will happen, one, two, five, or ten years down the road; we are not even sure what will happen today, but God does. By all means, make plans for today and for the future, but give wiggle room for God to alter the course or sometimes change the course. Seek God’s perfect will for what He wants us to do and tell Him we will follow His lead in all situations. Why? Because God has already seen the future, He knows the twists and turns and the pitfalls. Let Him lead the way.

Prayer:

Lord, I have made a lot of plans in my life, and most of them did not exactly work out as I planned. For the future, lead me in the way for my goals for my wife and me, for our children and grandchildren. Plans for our church family, and for our ministry, for our retirement, and for our finances. I ask this in Your name, Lord Jesus, Amen!