Planning!

It has been said that to fail to plan is to plan to fail. Without a plan what can be accomplished? Without a plan where will life take us? Those of you who are teens are probably formulating all kinds of plans for the years that may lay ahead. However, it is important to bear in mind that not just any plan will do.

God, through His prophet Isaiah, rebuked His people, saying…
“‘Ah, stubborn children,’ declares the LORD, ‘who CARRY OUT A PLAN, BUT NOT MINE, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; (2) who set out to go down to Egypt, without asking for my direction, to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!” ( Isaiah 30:1-2 ESV)

God’s people had planned to find refuge in Egypt rather than seeking protection from God through maintaining a right relationship with Him. Even before the promised land was entered God had warned not to return to Egypt. (i.e. Deuteronomy 17:16) Judah found themselves in trouble time and time again because they ignored GOD’S PLAN and followed their own. Like stubborn children they did not possess a proper perspective regarding what was truly best for themselves. Therefore they added “sin to sin” by first of all not remaining faithful to God and secondly by making plans without due consideration for God’s Will. With one sin leading to another they were moving down the wrong road physically and spiritually.

We too need to be careful in this regard. There are many who devise plans and then expect God to place His stamp of approval on them. We are first to seek what God has in mind. Our plan needs to be first and foremost to follow the PLAN OF GOD. Like the people of Judah, our alliance needs to be with Him, not the world and its ways. It is HIS PLAN and protection we need to recognize as dependable and best.

Solomon noted…
“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)

We may develop lots of plans for this life that will never come to fulfillment. However, GOD’S PLANS and purposes will come about because He has set them in place. To fail to acknowledge the sovereignty of HIS PLAN will cause us to be left out of it. May we maintain our partnership with Him, making HIS PLANS ours!

Have a great day KEEPING THE TRUST IN GOD AND HIS WILL!
Carl

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