Like the song says,’ I, Am Not Skilled to Understand…What, God has Willed…What God has “Planned”
Jeremiah 29:11
New International Version
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
A little lady by stature, but a spiritual giant, was my guidance counselor when I got out of the Army. She has been my friend ever since. She always has great insight on spiritual things.
She once startled me by saying she didn’t really plan, and didn’t even pray very much before starting on something. She said she knew God’s character, and it was always a choice. Obey or not. She went on to say that she always was in a state of prayer, and she felt like she knew the Lord well enough to know what He wanted her to do next.
At first I cringed. It was against all the teachings I have ever heard both from big time pastors, famous authors, and counselors. On the other hand, it is in line with what the Bible says.
Planning is good. I like to plan, have visions, dream dreams. The problem with a plan is that when God decides to make a change in your life, you can’t flow with it if you are rigid.
I love the Amish. I grew up surrounded by Amish. They don’t believe in electricity, but they have their houses wired when they build them. The reasoning is that if theAmish feel that God is calling them to move, they will be able to sell the house faster if it has wiring. Our lives should have wiring. We should be able to follow God fast.
We know basically what God is wanting us to do, for a season, but God can change our direction in a micro second. We have dreams, we put it all on the line where we are, but know that God can change that.
Romans 8:14
New International Version
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
God is very capable of guiding us, step by step. I am not a big planner, because things never go the way I planned. That is the reason I try to stay in prayer. I trust God. He guides me step by step. We teach the children that too. We teach them that God has a future and hope for them. That He has a plan for them.
God uses our dreams, visions and goals. They move us in a direction, but the future is in Jesus’ nail scarred hands. He is in control. We need to trust Him with our futures, not our planning abilities, and abundance of counsel.
It’s all good, it all helps, but trusting the Lord is the best plan we can have. We don’t know the future, nor even tomorrow, but He does.
We have plans for our ministry. We want more land. We want approval for a boarding school. Lot’s of things we can do. but God is ultimately in charge.
Dean