Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Proverbs 19:21-25
Prov 19:21-25
21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. 22 What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of the Lord leads to life and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm. 24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth. 25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
James 1:9-12
Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also, will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
The Bible is full of stories of people who made plans for their lives but who never saw it come to pass because they did not take into account the will of God. If we apply the same principles we learn from these stories, we can see the same thing in the lives of many from secular history as well. God is in control, not us.
In my life I have seen times that I thought we were headed one direction, only to find out that what seemed so sure (and so good) to me was a dead end and life took us in a completely different way. Sometimes it was because I made my plans without asking God and at other times, I just did not understand what he had in store for us. What makes this even more interesting is that some of the worst tragedies (at least it seemed it was to me at the time) turned out to be just what we needed to take us in an unseen but wonderful direction in life.
Seek his will for your life and he will lead you. Seek his guidance and he will show you the way. Follow his teaching and he will open doors for you that you never dreamed were possible. Trust God to lead you. Pray for him to guide you. Open your heart to his response. In absolute faith, give Jesus your life and he will use you in his way. He has a place for every one of us in his plans. Let him lead.
O Lord God, increase my faith and help me fully trust you, even as I make plans and seek to carry them out in my life. Keep my heart open to your guidance and to your direction. Give me a servant spirit so I will always seek to honor you and your holy name and so that you will get the glory for whatever I may do in life. Forgive me when I am stubborn and help me give up my ego. Be with your people who are hurting and give them your peace. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
