June 27
God’s Plan for You
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. ––Psalm 37:23, NKJV
I used to really be into long-term planning. You know, buy the book or course that helps you set 1-, 5-, and 10-year goals and plans. And I think planning is healthy––to an extent. The obvious fact is that God loves our plans when they align with His will for us. He also loves to give us His plans so we have a clear idea of His expectations for us. God gave long-term plans to Abraham (to father a nation), Joseph (to save Egypt and Israel from famine), David (to build the Temple), and Nehemiah (to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls), among others.
I’ve observed one common denominator between all the biblical examples of long-term planning that worked: Every plan was conceived by God and carried out by people who were faithful. God is clear that He has a plan for our lives when He tells Jeremiah: “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11).
However, oftentimes we make plans and then ask God to offer a backfilled blessing on them. Solomon had some experience with this and wisely tells us that “a man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9, NKJV).
In the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-21), Jesus warns against the folly of building your life entirely around hoarding wealth and securing your own future. The rich fool does just that, but ends up dying unexpectedly. So you may be asking, “Okay, then which is it? Should we make plans or not?” The answer is yes (joking). Seriously though, God does want us to make plans, but according to His timing and order:
- Every day, ask God to guide you in your decisions, both short-term and long-term.
- Seek godly wisdom and counsel regarding your plan(s).
- Ask Him to either confirm or deny the dreams and plans you have in your heart.
- Proceed according to His ways and means.
The Rich Fool placed his plans before God’s. That’s never a good idea, and will typically lead to chaos and confusion. It all comes back to the Kingdom mandate: we avoid all types of misery and disappointment when we run our plans through His Word, rather than the other way around.
The best advice I can give comes from wise Solomon himself:
There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand. ––Proverbs 19:21, NKJV
Father, planning for the long-term can be confusing. Please sift my thoughts, dreams and goals, and do away with any that are not edifying to You. I want my goals and plans to align with Your Kingdom goals.