Plans

Plans are good. We have to have plans. We plan for our vacation, we plan a wedding, we plan to buy a house, you have to have “plans” to build a house. You plan for retirement. We have plans for all sorts of events in life. You need plans. We like plans. I love to “plan” to go out someplace special. The anticipation is fun. Have you ever had your plans changed? That outdoor wedding went inside because of a tropical storm. Vacation was postponed because of sick children.  We have all had those things happen.

Proverbs 16:9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

We make plans every day whether we realize it or not. I plan to get out of bed, I plan to go to work, I plan to get the kids’ lunches ready…. We need to plan. When that vacation is ruined because one of the children have the flu, it can make you wonder why we bother. We do we make plans if they can so easily change. That’s life. God didn’t promise us a rose garden, He promised that He would be there with us whether we walked thru a rose garden or a field of thistles.

Jeremiah 29:11  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.

Prov 19:21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

Isaiah 55:9 As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 28:29 All this also comes from the Lord Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, whose wisdom is magnificent.

In the mid 80’s Amy Grant had a hit song, “Angels Watching Over Me”. If you have never heard it, google it. My favorite lines

God only knows the times my life was threatened just today.

A reckless car ran out of gas before it ran my way.

Near misses all around me, accidents unknown,

Though I never see with human eyes the hands that lead me home.

But I know they're all around me all day and through the night.

When the enemy is closing in, I know sometimes they fight

To keep my fight from falling, I'll never turn away.

If you're asking what's protecting me then you're gonna hear me say:

Got his angels watching over me, every move I make,

Angles watching over me!

Angels watching over me, every step I take,

Angels watching over me

We cannot know with our human mind, why God does what He does, why He changes OUR plans, but we certainly can trust that He has a plan and it IS the best plan for us.

Thank you, Lord, that you see the big picture. That you KNOW what is ahead and that what you are doing in our lives is for our benefit. You are a good and gracious God and we thank you for always watching over us! Amen

Shirlene Peterson