Thursday, March 20, 2025
1 The plans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight,
But the Lord weighs the motives.
3 Commit your works to the Lord
And your plans will be established.
4 The Lord has made everything for its own purpose,
Even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.
6 By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for,
And by the fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.
7 When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness
Than great income with injustice.
9 The mind of man plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 16:1-9
We make lots of plans! We are planning our menu for dinner, our evening at home, our vacation, our retirement, our errands on our day off, and on and on. Planning is a good thing. But today, we are reminded that the best planning tool is to draw close to God. Walking closely with God is the surest way to make the right plans for the things that matter most. Notice how much of knowing God’s plan for our lives is related to our heart. A heart intent on following the Lord opens up God’s thinking in us. And whenever we think more like God, we will think and plan our lives in ways that are pleasing to Him. And the more we please Him, the more He seems to open up to us His wisdom and direction for our lives.
- Pray and ask God if any areas in your life are not right with Him. If He reveals anything, agree with Him, confess it to Him, thank Him that He paid for it on the Cross, and ask Him to help you correct whatever He reveals.
- Ask God to make you a person who “hears” Him when He leads you in your life.
- Ask God to help you commit your life and plans to Him.
- Ask God to make our church and the Long-Range Planning Team people who hear Him as He leads us.