As the weekend neared, my
nervousness intensified. What if I forgot something? Something important. And,
of course, watching two shows about bear attacks didn’t help.
When my daughter was younger, we
backpacked and day-hiked regularly, but then life happened. She got older, left
for college, got a job, had two kids, and took on other responsibilities. Our
days of hiking and backpacking disappeared … almost.
But one weekend encapsulated her
delayed Christmas present to me … by seven months. She wanted to take me on a weekend
backpacking trip. As the weekend approached, I busied myself planning what we
would need. When we hiked regularly, planning came naturally. Although she was
young, and I was nervous about protecting her, I hardly had to think about what
we needed. Packing became second nature. But years had passed. I made a list …
and then another one … and then another. I was sure when we got into the car to
leave—or when we got to our campsite—I would remember something I didn’t bring.
The writer of Proverbs gives a
simple yet complicated formula for our plans to succeed: commit them to God.
Committing our actions to the Lord
entails remembering that my plans are not my plans after all. If so, they’ll
probably fail. My plans should reflect the plans God already has for me. My job
requires determining God’s plans so I can align mine with His. God says the plans
He has for His children are for their good, not their disaster.
Making those plans requires
familiarity with God’s Word, prayer, and communication with other
spiritually-minded people. God’s Word never leads us astray, and prayer
provides the means whereby we interact with God’s Spirit, who knows the mind of
Christ. Hundreds of books, videos, and articles exist that might also provide
good advice for our planning, but only if they are based on the principles of
God’s Word.
Time has a way of slipping by … of
passing quickly as we get older. I discovered this when I thought about how
long it had been since my daughter and I had backpacked. That’s when I realized
I only have enough time in life to follow God’s plan.
Ask God what His plans are for your life.
Then let Him help you plan out His plan.
Prayer: Father, give us guidance so
that the plans we make will align with Your plans.
Tweetable: With what in mind do you make plans?
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