today's devotional
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans", goes the saying. Lots of energy is spent strategizing, but life circumstances often steer us in a radically different direction. But, that direction is more than coincidental:
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD'S purpose that prevails." (Proverbs 19:21)
Some plans are merely "plans on paper", so to speak. They are carefully arranged, and logically ordered, but never executed. Other plans have a certain energy and drive; they are passionate plans. These are plans that drive us to execute them, and all the necessary steps seem to fall into place. These are plans with a sense of destiny. These prevail, because they are marked by the LORD's purpose.
Plans can be deceptive. In our minds, we can be convinced that they bear the mark of God. But, amidst the process of seeking to implement them, it becomes apparent that they bear the mark of the human rather than the divine. We may not be able to see what others near to us clearly see: these are our plans, and not God's purposes. As such, there is much wisdom in this verse:
"Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise the rest of your days." (Proverbs 19:20)
Perspective is easily obscured when we're too close to the situation. Those close to us can more readily see what we cannot see. Therefore, we are wise to listen to their counsel, and accept correction to our plans.
Few things in life are more precious than loving friends whom we can trust to tell us what we honestly need to know. Criticism is always difficult to accept. But, it is much more palatable when it comes from those we absolutely know to be concerned for our total well-being. Such friendship and counsel is absolutely essential to wise living.
The pathway to the Kingdom of God is more than ours alone; it's shaped by those who care, counsel, and correct.The Lord's purpose truly prevails, but it often prevails through the counsel and correction of others.
May your plans be marked with the purpose of God, and may you be open to the counsel and correction of loved ones through whom those purposes will prevail.
©Steve Taylor, 2013
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD'S purpose that prevails." (Proverbs 19:21)
Some plans are merely "plans on paper", so to speak. They are carefully arranged, and logically ordered, but never executed. Other plans have a certain energy and drive; they are passionate plans. These are plans that drive us to execute them, and all the necessary steps seem to fall into place. These are plans with a sense of destiny. These prevail, because they are marked by the LORD's purpose.
Plans can be deceptive. In our minds, we can be convinced that they bear the mark of God. But, amidst the process of seeking to implement them, it becomes apparent that they bear the mark of the human rather than the divine. We may not be able to see what others near to us clearly see: these are our plans, and not God's purposes. As such, there is much wisdom in this verse:
"Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise the rest of your days." (Proverbs 19:20)
Perspective is easily obscured when we're too close to the situation. Those close to us can more readily see what we cannot see. Therefore, we are wise to listen to their counsel, and accept correction to our plans.
Few things in life are more precious than loving friends whom we can trust to tell us what we honestly need to know. Criticism is always difficult to accept. But, it is much more palatable when it comes from those we absolutely know to be concerned for our total well-being. Such friendship and counsel is absolutely essential to wise living.
The pathway to the Kingdom of God is more than ours alone; it's shaped by those who care, counsel, and correct.The Lord's purpose truly prevails, but it often prevails through the counsel and correction of others.
May your plans be marked with the purpose of God, and may you be open to the counsel and correction of loved ones through whom those purposes will prevail.
©Steve Taylor, 2013
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
posted by steve @ 8:50 AM
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