Plans
- Susie Wong
- Feb 20
- 2 min read
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails,”
Proverbs 19:21, NIV.
Does our Father’s will have the final say? Does our ultimate purpose include obeying His plan? If so, how does that play out when our meandering thoughts include everything from a grocery list to getting gas for the car?
How do we humans train our thoughts? How do we guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus? How do we surrender our will, our wants, our desires to Him—the One worthy of our every breath?
“Not my will, Yours be done,” needs to not only be our morning prayer but our hourly battle cry. This practice of surrender needs to be one of our plans. In fact, it truly needs to be our first plan.
Do I really need to go to the grocery store today? If so, help me to make it my mission field—Your will be done. I will be kind and not insist on my own way. I won’t just walk in head down, but I will make eye contact and smile for You. Maybe I'll even spend according to my budget.
While getting gas, help me to be mindful of the people around me. If there is someone in need, help me to be generous.
Yet, how does God compete with individual will? He doesn’t. He lets us choose Him or not. When I compare my planned day with one of God’s, it usually ends with a deep sigh. I either didn’t accomplish much, or I produced a second place offering which could have easily been a kingdom-building moment.
As a disciple of Jesus, planning my days around His schedule is a must for me. After all, it’s what I signed up for—to help build God’s kingdom, His way. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Why do I think I can do better than our creator God?
Help me plan to plan for the kingdom of God.
Father,
You created creatures that think, process, and plan. We struggle to make it about You and Your plan when we have our own agenda. Teach us to guard our hearts and minds so these two ways, these two plans, sync with surrender to Your way.
We love You and are so thankful for Your sacrifice and service to the human race. Help us serve You in return.
Not my way, Yours be done.
Amen.
I love that you call surrender a "practice." Though it gets easier to listen and follow over time, it certainly takes practice to surrender and obey what God has purposed for each day, even each hour! But He helps us when we offer a willing heart. And Praise God His mercies are new every morning! So, we try again! Surrender again!