Our Plans < His Plans

“There are many plans in a man’s heart,

Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand.” (Proverbs 19:21 NKJV)

The crux of a believer’s life path is found in this proverb. We plan, we prepare, we propose but all in the context of, “God willing . . ..” James best summarized it in his letter to the church.

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’ But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

“Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:13-17 NKJV)

Sadly, there is a whole world of people around us who do not realize that this applies to them, whether they are believers or not. Unlike the characterization of many of the gods of surrounding cultures, our Father’s omniscient workings are not capricious or arbitrary; Jesus told us as much. He said:

“‘Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.’” (Luke 12:6-7 NKJV)

From the beginning – when God walked the Garden with Adam and Eve in the cool of the evening, when He asked Cain where his brother was, when He personally directed Moses to deliver His people – God has expressed personal interest in individuals, not just groups. He knows you. He cares for you. His plans for you are for your good.

Make your plans; it is careless to fly by the seat of your pants. But realize that our lives are in His hands. He has better plans than you can possibly imagine.

Related Scriptures

“The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;

He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.

The counsel of the LORD stands forever,

The plans of His heart to all generations.” (Psalms 33:10-11 NKJV)

“A man’s heart plans his way,

But the LORD directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9 NKJV)

“‘Remember the former things of old,

For I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is none like Me,

Declaring the end from the beginning,

And from ancient times things that are not yet done,

Saying, “My counsel shall stand,

And I will do all My pleasure,”

Calling a bird of prey from the east,

The man who executes My counsel, from a far country.

Indeed I have spoken it;

I will also bring it to pass.

I have purposed it;

I will also do it.” (Isaiah 46:9-11 NKJV)

“Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.” (Hebrews 6:17-18 NKJV)