Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
I once attended a conference, and I was coming home on a plane. I was there at the airport, and I was walking to my gate, a ways away from my gate still. I decided just to sit down on one of the seats for a few minutes, and I'm just sitting there pondering.
I'm thinking, I’ll just get to my gate anyway, just to make sure I'm at least an hour or so early.
I'm walking through the airport, and I come around the corner and there's one of the flight attendants standing there, right at the entrance to the airplane, and she's like, "Are you Rick?" I go, "Yeah." She goes, "You better get on the plane because it's taking off." I'm like, "I thought I was going to be at least an hour or so early."
She's reiterates, "It's taking off."
Poor Planning Creates Chaos
The fact of the matter is, I'd had a connecting flight, and I still thought I was in the same time zone. As you think about planning—sometimes lack of planning, or lack of foresight, can really create chaos.
That's why the Bible speaks to this whole issue of planning in our Verse of the Day. It comes from Proverbs chapter 19, verse 21. "You can make many plans, but the LORD's purpose will prevail."
The Book of Proverbs
I love the book of Proverbs. I used to have my children try to read it every day. I try to read Proverbs periodically—every day, one per month. It's short, pithy, wise sayings. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom," as it says in Proverbs chapter 1, verse 7. Everything just kind of extends from that, and ultimately it points to the ultimate wise one—Jesus Christ.
Two Principles of Planning
As we look at our passage today, very simply in Proverbs chapter 19, verse 21, there are two principles of planning that basically show how God's purpose will always prevail—and quite frankly, ways that you and I can avoid the chaos that results from poor planning, lack of planning, or no planning.
Number One: Make Plans
Number one: Make plans. You can make many plans. It assumes that we're going to make plans.
Genesis chapter 1 says: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
God knows everything all at the same time, but God Himself is a Creator. He's also an amazing planner and administrator. We're going to make our plans. It reflects being in the image of God where we plan. Planning is assumed. It's not condemned. In fact, some people are very, very gifted this way—they're incredible planners.
Number Two: Make Plans According to God's Plan
Number two: Make plans according to His plan. Why? Because the Lord's purpose will prevail.
This is why, friends, it's so important for us to know God's Word so that we can align our plans with His plans.
I remember hearing a pastor say one time: "You don't want to do something that you're not sure God wants you to do."
We make plans and we want to make sure they're according to God's plan. God has a specific plan for you and for me.
Plan Wisely, but Trust God Fully
What do we do with all this? Number one: Plan wisely, but trust God fully.
The Bible says in Proverbs chapter 16, verse 3: "Commit your works to the LORD, and your plans will be established."
You're going on a big trip. You got big plans. You're thinking about starting a business or you're praying about a church. Commit your plans to the Lord. Think about them right out of the list. What are the strengths? What are the weaknesses? What are the concerns? Whatever it might be, make plans and then entrust them. Trust the Lord Jesus Christ fully.
Trust God's Unseen Work
Number two: Trust God's unseen work.
You know we need to plan, but the Bible says in 2 Corinthians chapter 5, verse 7: "We walk by faith, not by sight."
We have a God who thinks—and this is an intellectual faith. You don't check your brain at the door. We walk by faith, but we also know that we can trust God's unseen work in our life because there are many things that we can't see what He's doing. We just see the effects sometimes.
I love this passage in Romans chapter 8, verse 28: "For God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who have been called according to His purpose."
The good of verse 28 is really what happens in verse 29, because God uses the good, the bad, the difficulty—He's planning and making sure that whatever happens in your life and mine is verse 29: conforming us to the image of Jesus Christ.
Rest in God's Wisdom
Then finally: Rest in God's wisdom, not yours. Jesus, take the wheel. I want to rest in Your wisdom.
I love Psalm chapter 46, verse 10: "Be still and know that I am God."
I love Proverbs chapter 16, verse 9: "The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."
When Situations Are Messy
You say, Rick, you don't really understand how bad my situation is. I didn't plan—or even if I did plan—but this situation is a mess. What do I do? Because I really don't think God has it under control.
Well, in the book of Acts, in verse 23 of chapter 2, speaking of Jesus, the writer of Acts says: "This Man was delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God. You nailed Him to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death."
The crucifixion—the worst act ever, crucifying the Son of God. And yet it was a predetermined plan that God had. Why? Because He's sovereign and He's in control even of the worst situation, which ultimately was for your salvation and mine.
Trust God's Ultimate Plan
Think about your life plan. Make your plans, but make sure you entrust them to the Lord because He is the ultimate planner and the designer of your life, so that you become more like Jesus Christ.
