“The plans of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord…
The heart of man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps…
Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” Proverbs 16:1,9; 19:21
The wise king knew the inclinations of his own heart- the desire to plan, to manage, to control himself and everyone else. His knowledge of God’s creation and personal experience amply taught him that no insight, plan, or counsel could succeed against the Lord. As he grew in wisdom, he gratefully resigned his intentions to God’s sovereignty over all things. His rest in God’s goodness compelled him to record this wisdom for others. (1 Kings 4:29-33; Proverbs 21:30)
“His brothers came and fell down before him and said, ‘Behold, we are your servants.’ But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you…’ Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” Genesis 50:18-21
It is in a man to consider and make plans. We are motivated by both dream and necessity, and being created with agency to think and do, we can strategize and prepare and purpose toward many an action and end. Some plot for evil, some for good. What the child of God needs to understand and accept is that we, in all this intending, are not our own masters. Certainly we can aspire and make ready and even begin to implement for what is to come, but we must know that the Lord by His hand establishes our steps. His will is where we can rest. The working of HIs will exalts His glory.
But oh, how we can chafe! In the flesh we resist another Master, in passionate desire we push to make our will come to pass. The Lord watches, allows, upends, intervenes, all according to His goodness and perfection. His high thought supersedes our thinking, His high ways override our limited ones. We make the choice to keep maneuvering to escape His roadblocks or detours, or to accede to His supremacy and trust His hand to guide and carry to the best end. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
What plans and efforts is God calling me to relinquish gladly to His sovereignty? In what situations do we kick against the goads, attempting to quench His Spirit, stubbornly intent on our wants and dreams? Where will we entrust our hearts, safely and expectantly, to His hands? (Acts 26:12-15; 1 Thessalonians 5:19)
“Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth;
shelters thee under his wings, ye so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires e’er have been
granted by what he ordaineth?
Praise to the Lord, who dost prosper thy work and defend thee;
surely his goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty will do,
if with his love he befriend thee.” ~Joachim Neander (1680)
Father, into Your hands I commit my heart’s best plans, that Your will be done.
As the rain and snow 
Jesus says why are you persecuting me … and I have read this many times but it struck me that He so identifies with His body, the church, that He says me in this context!! 💜
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