Man Plans but God Directs
God is in Control
Prov 16:1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
Men make plans in their hearts, but the Lord has the last word. All of the planning in the world will not change the Lord’s plan.
Prov 16:9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
The Lord has a plan for us and He directs us according to His plan, not our plan. When we are being lead by the Lord, we will plan according to His will and not our own. If we do not have a plan, we do not need to worry, the Lord always has one.
Prov 19:21 There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
God is sovereign and not we ourselves. We cannot change the Lord’s plan; we are not in control of our own destiny, but God is.
Prov 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
When we plan, as lead by God’s word, to do His will, for His glory, by the ability and strength He gives us, our plans will be successful. In other words, when we are committed to do God’s will, in His strength, we will have success.
Jer 6:19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.
When a person does not live and plan according to the word of God, so as to obey the will of God, then God will oppose the plans of that person’s life and even bring disaster upon that person. Our plans cannot succeed if we do not plan according to God’s will, as found in His word.
Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
God has good plans for everyone who believes in Him and loves Him. We may not know exactly what the Lord has planned for us in this life, but we do know that those plans are for our welfare and not for our calamity. God wants us to hope for blessings in our future as we live to do His will today.
Ps 17:5 Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
We will never fail if we live each day to do the Lord’s will.
Ps 18:36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
There is no failure in doing God’s will according to His plan. We only fail when we do our own will according to our own plans.
Ps 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
The Lord delights in our ways when we are submitted to Him, in doing His will, as He leads us moment by moment and day by day.
Ps 37:31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
When we live according to the word of God, we will not fail nor go the wrong way.
Prov 20:24 Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
We do not know what we will be doing in the future, not even from day to day, but God knows and He will direct us one step at a time.
Jer 10:23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
We do not determine our own destiny, only the Lord is sovereign. We should trust the Lord to lead us and should always be ready for new direction in our life.
Ps 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
When we are unfaithful the Lord restores us to be obedient to Him. Furthermore, He guides us to do that which is right, for the honor of His name and for His glory.
Ps 25:4 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
The Lord will guide us and teach us to do His perfect will, as we look to Him in prayer.
Ps 25:10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
When we seek to do the Lord’s will we will experience His love and kindness, as He leads us in the way He wants us to go.
Prov 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
The word of God instructs us, to trust in the Lord with all your heart, even when we do not understand what He is doing in our life. If we will trust in Him, that is, if we will only believe that He is in control and that He never makes a mistake, He will lead us in His perfect will and we will realize success.
Prov 5:21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.
The Lord always watches out for us, to lead us and to protect us. The Lord cares for us and He has every detail of our life planned; He even has the hairs of our head numbered. Matt 10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. We can trust in God.
1 Pet 2:21-25 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
We should follow the example of Jesus Christ who intrusted Himself to God, His Father and our father; that is, we should intrust our life to our God and Father. Jesus Christ took our sins upon Himself, so that we might die to sin and live a righteous life, a life that is pleasing to God. Before we were saved we could not please God, but now He leads us in the way that is pleasing to Him because He has redeemed us to be His own.
Trust in the Lord; He will not fail to lead you in the way you should go.
All Scripture taken from King James Bible
* Bible Studies by Max Swan
Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD. (NAS) Jer 9:23-24