Planning and Trusting

I'd like to be able to plan out my days. Or even the whole week. Maybe even my whole life.

Somehow it gives comfort. Maybe it's that desire to control the universe. That hunger to accomplish my goals each day.

And I think there is some biblical precedent in planning. No one builds a tower without counting the cost. Plan in the Spring so you have a harvest in the Fall. Save money for your old age and an inheritance for your children. All those principles can be found in Scriptures.

So how do we reconcile James 4:15?

"Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'"

The passage is not talking about living a life without a plan. Just rolling out of bed each morning and doing whatever comes across my path might sound inviting some days, but it's neither realistic nor biblical.

What this passage is teaching is that we need to submit our plans to God.

"I'm going to get up and do this, if the Lord wills."

I plan for the day, or the week, or even my life, but submit it to God's will.

The responsibility lies on me then to determine if what I have planned is God's will.

First, filter it through the Word of God, looking for commands, prohibitions and principles.

Then proceed. Take on the day with this goal in mind, but allow God to change my plans.

Don't get upset when equipment breaks or a phone call changes my plans. Realize that God is in control of these unexpected events, too.

He is planning my day, my week, and my life to bring glory to Himself.

So submitting my plans and accepting the changes will allow me to bring glory to God.

I can plan and trust God.

Every day.

Every week.

My whole life long.