Making Plans & The Will of God
Some of us are meticulous planners. Others may wing it more. Yet, either way you cut it, many of us have plans on what we think we want to do with our lives. And can even begin moving accordingly. However, in this walk, not all goes according to your plans.
Proverbs 27:1 KJVS
Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
We see the sun and the moon rise and set consistently. Yet, for all of this, we must learn that the next day is not promised… Well at least not to us anyway. And not only the next day but the next moment. Even in that day you do not know what may or may not happen to you or someone you know, from one moment to the next. And this doesn’t always have to be until death, to say the least but this can be something as simple as, I went to the grocery store but on my way out I dropped my wallet. The day could have been going good up until that moment. But now since this event happened, a seemingly good day is turned sour. Now your plans for that day and your perspective of how well that day was going, has now shifted.
James 4:13-17 KJVS
Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: [14] Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. [15] For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. [16] But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. [17] Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
When we get into a locked mindset of what will or won’t happen on a given day, even this can be seen as evil. As the day is not ours, no, not even our lives. We have to take a mindset of Most High permit or God willing, I will do a, b, c, x, y, z. As you should be seeking the Lord’s counsel in everything you do. And pray unto him for the success of it, lest you fall into sin, led away with a seducing spirit.
Luke 12:16-21 KJVS
And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: [17] And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? [18] And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. [19] And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. [20] But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? [21] So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Similar to this man, we can get so wrapped up in our plans for the future; I will go to college and study in this and then get a job in this. I will start a new career in this. I will marry him/her. When we don’t know if the very thing we are saying goes against the will of God. He can hear you discussing your elaborate plans and decide that none of that is going to ever happen. And you wonder why things in your life are not moving the way you want it to. You just think the devil is trying to stop you. Never stopping to question or realize, in all reality, it’s really The Most High making things adverse. Because you are moving adversely toward him and not operating according to His will but rather your own. And if you stay on that path he may eventually decide he has no need of you anymore and cast you off altogether. I mean who wants a self-willed servant who won’t serve you but does according to their own pleasure?
Matthew 26:36-39,42,44 KJVS
Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. [37] And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. [38] Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. [39] And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. [42] He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. [44] And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
Some may not have known but Christ was not exceedingly happy about the judgment he was receiving. Even though it was revealed to him prior in the spirit that he would be a living sacrifice. Yet, as the time drew near and even at his door step, he became very sorrowful. He (being in the flesh) was both sad and anxious. Knowing he was about to suffer a painful death. But notice he decided, even in his time of weakness, to consult with The Most High. Ask him if he would change his fate. If there was any other way he would do it. But he said nevertheless, let not my will be done but yours. And he sent up the same prayer three times. so you know it was bothering him. And he did not choose to run from it but accept it and remain faithful to The Most High. Leaving an example for us to follow. 1. Seek God 2. Accept His will. 3. Move accordingly.
Matthew 6:9-10 KJVS
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. [10] Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Does not our foundational prayer teach us the same? We pray for the will of the Father to be done both in our lives and on this earth we live in. Never realizing that his will may go against our own.
Daniel 4:35 KJV
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
But who are we to question God’s judgment? Who can correct Him or say His way is wrong? He does what He desires in heaven and in earth. You just have to learn to deal with it.
Luke 12:47-48 KJVS
And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. [48] But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
You have a responsibility to be able to learn God’s will and respond accordingly. Yet, either way, you’re not off the hook. But it is better to learn the will of God and what is required of you and prepare yourself to act accordingly and fight to do as He desires you to do. Especially, if you make a boast of how you are a child of God or servant of God. What good is a disobedient child or rebellious servant?
John 21:18 KJVS
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
You have to know that when you are young (59 years of age and younger) you have mobility and strength due to youth to help you move how you need to move. But as you get old (60+) all of that begins to fade. Health problems start pouring in one by one and you reach a point where you need help. You need someone else to help take care of you in one shape, form or fashion or another. And the more help you need, the less control you have. Someone else has the wheel of your life and you are a passenger along for the ride. This same concept is how being in this walk is. You have to allow yourself to trust in The Most High God to direct your life by letting go of the wheel, getting out the car and getting in on the passenger side and saying, “I will let you drive and go where you lead me.”
John 21:19 KJVS
This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
