Proverbs 16:9
“The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.”
A couple of weeks ago, Jason Strand, a teaching pastor at my church made the statement, “You may have plans, but God has a purpose, and God knows best.” Since first hearing this comment, I cannot tell you the number of times it has come to mind and come up in various conversations. It seems all too many of us can relate to the idea that sometimes God’s purposes do not align with our plans.
As I’ve considered this statement at length and how I have seen the truth of it play out in my own life, I was reminded of countless characters in the Bible we meet whose lives were interrupted by God’s greater purpose. Think of Abraham, Moses, Gideon, the disciples and the Apostle Paul among others.
Abraham was living in the modern city of Ur of the Chaldeans when seemingly out of nowhere God called Him to leave everything he knew behind and move to a land God would later show him. After fleeing Egypt, Moses went to work as a shepherd. While tending the flocks one day, God appeared to Moses in a burning bush and called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites when an angel appeared, called him a great and mighty warrior, and charged him to deliver the Israelites from their oppression. The disciples too were living out their lives as fishermen, tradesmen, a tax collector, and zealot when Jesus invited them to trade in their current plans for a new life with Him. And the Apostle Paul, well who could forget his encounter on the road to Damascus? He was busy persecuting Christians only to be blinded and called by Jesus in a way that would forever alter the course of his life.
You see, the thing is, though God called each person in a different way, every one of them had plans for their life that were seemingly interrupted by God’s greater purpose. We should be open to the same. The truth is, when we faithfully follow God there will be times when He throws us a curve ball. When He interrupts our plans and asks us to change course.
As such, we would be wise to regularly seek God and His continued direction for our lives. What He called us to yesterday may not be what He is calling us to today. Hold your plans with an outstretched hand and open heart. Like so many faithful followers who have gone before, be open to changing your plans and trading them in for God’s greater purpose for your life.
Proverbs 16:9 says, “The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.”
How is God directing your steps today? Will your follow even if His purpose is different than your current plans?
Today, be open to being interrupted by God. Remember, you may have plans, but God has a purpose, and God knows best.
