ARE YOU LIVING YOUR PLANS, OR GOD’S PURPOSE?

Seeking clarity amid the clutter

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. ~Proverbs 19:21 (ESV)

4 Step Bible Study:

Step 1, Knowledge: What does it SAY; what are the WORDS?

Plans: thoughts, device, intention, plan

Mind: heart, mind

Purpose: counsel, advice, plan

Stand: rise, arise, stand

Step 2, Understanding: What does it MEAN; what are the TRUTHS?

A person’s mind and heart tend to be filled with plans, ideas, intentions, information, schemes, scenarios, plots, and speculations about the future.
God has a purpose, counsel, advice, and plans of His own for each of us.
God’s plans and purposes are guaranteed to stand. He is always right.
Human plans are not guaranteed to stand. Most are doomed to failure.
A person’s plans may or may not be in alignment with the plans and purpose of God.

Step 3, Wisdom: How does it APPLY to ME?

My mind and heart are often filled with plans and ideas. Sometimes it seems I am swarming with good ideas, plans, and imagined futures filled with brightness and success. And often filled with worry, doubt, and a sense of overwhelm.
A couple of problems here is that too many plans can clutter my mind and heart. I can’t focus and work with excellence on a large number of plans. Most plans need to be scrapped to make time and attention for the tiny few critical activities and plans that will lead to God’s genuine success for me.
Another problem with my plans is that I must be absolutely certain that my desires, goals, and plans are in alignment with the Lord my God. That means bringing them all before Him on a regular basis in prayer, measuring everything by His Word, and moving forward with only that which I honestly believe to be in accordance with His best will. (See Jeremiah 29:11)
I must also remember that the will of God is not just linear or singular; it is varied like a fruit tree with a piece of fruit on every twig. Ultimately everything is according to His will (see Romans 8:28), but He clearly has “preferences”. I can be allowed in His permissive will to trash my life and fill my few days on earth with low living, small goals, and selfishness. But He has made many better paths for me to choose from. I can settle for the low, easy fruit of God’s permissive will, or I can strive for those higher paths and greater achievements for Him, seeking His perfect will.
Now God knows which of all those manifold plans in my heart are from Him, and which ones are from my own will and imagination. He has a “best will” for me and desires that I live it out. So again my job is to cull through all those plans and possibilities rolling around in my heart and mind, determine the few that are from the Lord, and rid myself of the rest. (And what a sense of relief and freedom that will be!)
Remember that the path for the greatest life and greatest impact is in the realm of my greatest giftedness. Focus on doing with excellence those few things for which God has created me, using the gifts, abilities, and skills He has blessed me with.

Step 4, Faith and Action: My RESPONSE

Look over my current set of Goals and Plans, my habits and what I spend my time doing. Cull ’em!
Focus on the few I know are from the Lord.
Be willing to let my “pet” plans and goals go if they are not God’s best for me and my world.
Rather than ask God’s blessings on my plans, I can follow His plans and be assured of His blessings.
Jesus is Lord, so I exist for His will, His plans, His purposes. It doesn’t matter what I want. After all, “I delight to do Thy will…”
I LOVE to follow His will, fulfill His plans and live in partnership with the Almighty.
Thank God, He is for me, and I am for Him.
I feel better already!