DOES OUR PLAN ALIGN WITH GOD’S PLAN

“We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.“ – Proverbs 16:9.

We all have plans. There are large plans such as going to college, having a family, or getting a job, and there are also smaller plans such as going shopping, going to a movie, or making tacos for dinner. If we are honest, we believe that we have a pretty good idea of our future, whether it’s ten minutes from now or ten years from now. And why not? Much of what we do and how we do it is predicated on designing our future and the steps we need to achieve that future. But what happens when our plans don’t align with God’s plans for us?

Scripture answers that question. Proverbs 19:21 says, “You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.” The Bible directly tells us that no matter what our plans are, the Lord’s plan will come to pass. This Scripture makes a crucial point: your plans will only come to fruition if they are the Lord’s will and if they are part of His plan for you.

Too often, we prefer our plan. Throughout scripture, we see phrases like “own way,” “own thoughts,” “own heart,” etc. Judges 17:6 says, “… all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.” 2 Kings 17:33 says, “And though they worshiped the Lord, they continued to follow their own gods…” Proverbs 14:14a (EST) says, “The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways… Proverbs 21:2 says, “People may be right in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their heart.” And finally Isaiah 53:6 says. “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.”

There is nothing wrong with having plans. God wants us to go to Him with our plans. He wants to be included. He wants to be our guide. He wants us to trust Him completely. He wants us to go to Him with our plans, lay them at His feet, and say, “I have some ideas, God, but what do You think? What do You want for me?”

Then we wait. Rather than getting impatient and going our own way, we wait for God’s response. God may not respond immediately, which means that sometimes, giving God your plans looks like taking action steps without a clear yes but remaining surrendered to His plan.

Proverbs 16:1-3 says, “We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer. People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives. Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.”

It’s okay to have plans but be prepared that God’s plans may be better. You might want to believe your plans are right, but God knows your heart. The key is to get in sync with God. If you walk with God in everything you do, your plans will succeed because they will align with God’s plans for you.

Discussion Questions:

When was a time when you knew you were living God’s plans for you? How did you know? Or, when did you realize that you were not living God’s plans for you? How did you know?
Proverbs 16:4 says: “The Lord has made everything for His own purposes.” What are the implications of this verse for our lives?