In the book of Jeremiah chapter 29 verses 11 to 13, The LORD spoke to Prophet Jeremiah and told him to tell the Israelites that were taken as captive to Babylon at that time, “For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD, ‘plans for well being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will look for Me and find Me, when you look for Me with all your heart.”
Even GOD has good plans for HIS people, to give our lives a future and a hope. So to make plans for our future, and our present, is a good thing for many reasons. A plan is like a map of what we expect. A plan brings order into our lives because we have a clearer direction of what we want to see, experience, and do in our present and future. A plan brings hope into our lives because we always plan good things and experiences. We have something to look forward to.
In the book of Proverbs chapter 16 verse 9, it says that "A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life], But the LORD directs his steps and establishes them."
But also the book of Proverbs chapter 19 verse 21 says that "Many plans are in a man’s mind, But it is the LORD’S purpose for him that will stand (be carried out).
It's a good thing making plans for our lives, in fact Scripture says 'many plans are in a man's mind,' even when those plans are not written down.
Since GOD has plans for you and me, it is wise if we verify our plans with HIM and see if it is what HE also has in mind for our lives in that period or season, or that year. And one way we can verify our plans with HIM, is to commit them through prayer, and ask HIM to reveal HIS Will and Plans for our lives for present and future.
In the book of Proverbs chapter 16 verse 3, it says that "Share your plans with the LORD, and you will succeed." The same Scripture in Good News Bible Translation it says "Ask the LORD to bless your plans, and you will be successful in carrying them out." King James Bible Version says "Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established."
When we make plans for our lives, we need to verify and confirm those plans with GOD'S plans HE has for our lives so that we can make necessary amendments or changes. But also when we share our plans to the LORD or commit our plans to HIM, and ask HIM to bless those plans, the Bible says HE will help you and me to succeed.
Not only will reveal HIS plans for our lives incase we need to make changes from what we had plan, HE will also help you and me to fulfil HIS plans in our lives. HE will guide our steps.
And what I have realized so far is that it’s a process; GOD may not reveal everything to you and me at once, but HE will unfold HIS plans for our lives period by period, life stage by life stage, as we keep on seeking HIM in prayer, listening to sermons and faith messages, in praise and spending quality time with HIM reading Scriptures, HIS WORD.
There is this story that the LORD JESUS shared in the Bible that shows we should verify our plans with the LORD.
In the book of Luke chapter 12 verses 13 to 35, it records, "One of the people said to JESUS, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the riches that our father left us." JESUS said to him, "Friend, who has told ME to say who should get what?" Then JESUS said to them all, "Watch yourselves. Keep from wanting all kinds of things you should not have. A man’s life is not made up of things, even if he has many riches." Then HE told them a picture story, saying, "The fields of a rich man gave much grain. The rich man thought to himself, 'What will I do? I have no place to put the grain.' Then he said, 'I know what I will do. I will take down my grain building and I will build a bigger one. I will put all my grain and other things I own into it. And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many good things put away in your building. It will be all you need for many years to come. Now rest and eat and drink and have lots of fun."' But GOD said to him, 'You fool. Tonight your soul will be taken from you. Then who will have all the things you have put away?' It is the same with a man who puts away riches for himself and does not have the riches of GOD."
Though this Bible passage talks about the spirit of greed and we should avoid it because life is not about materialistic things, accumulating good things. It's not just about just eating, drinking, and having lots fun. It's not about accumulating riches for yourself. Life is precious and it can be taken away from you anytime.
The Bible says then JESUS said to them all. "Watch yourselves. Keep from wanting all kinds of things you should not have. A man’s life is not made up of things, even if he has many riches."
What JESUS says to one, HE says to all. Our lives and our value as human beings and as born again Christians are not made up of things even if we have many riches.
Though it's good to plan our lives, and invest in our future, but we need to seek GOD to reveal HIS plans for our lives. We need to seek GOD in prayer and in spending quality time with HIM, because it's necessary. We need to develop a relationship with GOD so that we can have the riches of GOD. We need to involve in GOD'S affairs and what really matters based on HIS ways and standards of living. We need to put GOD first priority including in our plans and involve HIM in every detail of our lives.
We can make plans, set life goals, but we should not forget to seek guidance and direction from GOD, we should not forget to pray and commit our plans to GOD so that HE could establish them. And when we find that HE has other plans for our lives, we make modifications based on HIS Will for our lives.
GOD knows what’s best for our lives. GOD knows the number of our days and what we are here on this Earth for, so it’s important to involve HIM in our lives, in our plans, and check with HIM about His plans for our lives.
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