The Path You Are On is Not Going to End Well
Plans
I seem to find my steps to accomplish my best plans, trip over circumstances
This makes me so glad God says
If the Lord delights in a man's way,
he makes his steps firm;
though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand. Psalms 37:23-24
I love it when a plan comes together that is
Because many times my plans do not come together
When a plan does, it usually has some unexpected cost and drama
Never forget our ability to make plans, is for us
to realize we were created for His pleasure and His purpose
So, make plans with a heart to please God
And when your next step is in doo doo
Remember it might be God’s direction
So you can be a part of the bigger plan, saving the world
Plans
You may or may not be a fan of the ‘80s TV series,
But you probably know the famous
catchphrase from the show…
“I love it when a plan comes together.”
It was used frequently throughout the show’s
five-season run from 1983 to 1986
by the team’s cigar-chomping leader…
Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith,
played by actor George Peppard.
Plans…
We all make plans
Some of us are passive about our plans.
And others,
are very aggressive about making plans.
I am more the aggressive type.
I sometimes work so hard on a plan
I miss the window of opportunity.
Plans are important they say…
“If you aim at nothing,
you will hit it every time.”
Proverbs 16:9 says…
In his heart a man plans his course,
but the Lord determines his steps.
You might say why plan if the Lord
determines our steps?
If God has predetermined our steps
and our future, why plan?
Do our plans really matter?
Our plans do matter.
God made us with the ability to think and act.
So, God made us to make plans.
Making successful plans takes skill.
Planning lunch does not take the skill
you would need to plan heart surgery.
So many times we make plans
and along the way we don’t find ourself
where we planned to be, but…
In that place we find new direction.
We call it plan “B”.
In reality, we discover our plans are not all about us.
Our plans involve others
and that is where it gets much more complicated.
I can’t tell you how many times
I went into a meeting with a well worked out plan…
And the plan was reworked
or shot down all together.
Proverbs 16:1 tells us…
To man belong the plans of the heart
But those plans, as good as we feel about them,
have to be worked out in this world.
A world that is fallen, full of corruption.
Yet, a world God loves and wants to save.
So our plans have to face the pressure of this world
and God’s will to save the world.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:16-17
God made you with the ability to plan
and He wants to equip you to make plans
that will change not only…
Your environment, but the world.
If you plan to be a heart surgeon
you may have many reasons for it.
Maybe you like the science of it,
or the prestige,
or money (which is nice) but if…
God wanted you to be a heart surgeon
what would be His goal?
I question all the time why my plans
don’t get the results I worked so hard for.
Maybe part of the answer is found in this verse…
A man's steps are directed by the Lord.
How then can anyone understand his own way?
Proverbs 20:24
Have you ever wondered how
you got to where you are?
How then can anyone understand his own way?
I love boating.
One of the mysteries of boating
is the influence of wind and waves.
When I have spent a day on the water
I want to make a straight path to the dock…
But if there is wind and waves
that path is not straight and
I have to compensate.
Paul the Apostle was on the water.
His journey started because he was arrested.
Paul could have been freed, but
his plan included an appeal to Ceasar.
Acts 26:32
So he was placed on a ship
and hurricane winds caused him
to be shipped wrecked.
On top of all the drama up to this point…
Paul made a fire and was bit by a poisons snake.
He does not die
and the people want to make him a god.
Paul stops them and revealed
the true God by healing many people.
You and I would not have included
these events in our plans.
The plans of Paul ended with his feet in places
he did not plan…
But Paul never lost sight of
his purpose in the hardships.
Acts 27 - 29
A man's steps are directed by the Lord.
Proverbs 20:24
I seem to find my steps to accomplish my best plans,
trip over circumstances.
This makes me so glad God says…
If the Lord delights in a man's way,
he makes his steps firm;
though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
Psalms 37:23-24
I love it when a plan comes together
that is because…
Many times my plans do not come together.
And when a plan does…
It usually has some unexpected cost and drama.
Never forget our ability to make plans
is for us to realize we were created
for His pleasure and His purpose.
So, make plans with a heart to please God.
And when your next step is in doo doo remember…
It might be God’s direction…
So you can be a part of the bigger plan
saving the world.
Scripture Reading
Proverbs 16:9 NIV
9 In his heart a man plans his course,
but the Lord determines his steps.
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