“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.” Jeremiah 29:11
Prior planning prevents poor performance. Anyone who has planned a successful event will vouch for that. And those who have resorted to last-minute preparation with no prior planning can relate stories of disastrous results.
Prior planning is simple for the Christian: begin with God. He is the great planner. “In the beginning,” God planned and effected all creation. Through His Son, God devised and implemented a plan of salvation for the whole world. God announced His plans to send the Holy Spirit for all believers prior to Jesus’ return to heaven. What a perfect planner!
But God is also a personal planner for every one of us. Before we were formed in the womb, God chose a plan and purpose for each of us (Jeremiah 1:5). It makes perfect sense to consult God in prayer to discover His plans before we initiate ours. Too often we make our own plans, then ask God to fit Himself into them. That’s not a good idea. “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD'S purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21). God works out His will despite our selfish plans, but prayerful planning with God spells purposeful performance.
PRAYER: We commit our work and ways to You, O Lord. Establish our plans according to Your holy will; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
(Devotions from “The Abundant Life” copyright 1998, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time e-mailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)
Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 143-145 John 18:1-18
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