True story: Two Christian friends from the same neighborhood, in the same town, graduated from high school at the same time. They both applied for similar jobs at the same company and began working there. There’s a lot of ‘sameness’ in this real-life scenario, except after ten years, one person had been promoted to an executive level position. The other had several scuffles with management, gained a negative reputation for being difficult to work with and had not advanced at all. A person can assume any number of reasons as to why two people with similar backgrounds can begin on equal footing, but for the most part not end up that way. We could possibly chalk it up to ambition, attractiveness, likeability, or intellect, but as a Christian, I’m inclined to believe that so much more was at play here.
Proverbs 19:21 (NLT) tells us, “You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.” This is what we do; we make plans. Most of us have a sense of how we want our lives to turn out. We have it in our minds exactly what we want to do. We put our plan in motion, and for the most part things turn out relatively okay. Then a level of comfort sets in. The routine is pressed for replay each day. Things may not be perfect; we may not necessarily like what we do for a living, and we may not find joy or fulfillment in it, but things are familiar and manageable. Let me state for the record that as a Christian, if you’re in this mode, it will not last. Discomfort will most certainly make a grand entrance.
We can make all the plans that we like, but all of them will not come out the way we expect. Both of the neighborhood friends I mentioned no doubt believed that they would enjoy similar levels of success, but this did not turn out to be the case. It isn’t that God blessed one and did not bless the other. Often, we start out on the right path, but somewhere along the way we change course from the destiny that God has ordained for us. Either we make the wrong decisions or choices, we refuse to make a change or shift, or we stop growing at a pace necessary for God’s purposes. There are warning signs all over the place when any of these things happen, but most folks don’t notice them. We get off the path that is intended for us, because our eyes are not on the Lord’s purpose, and we’re too busy looking at someone else’s path.
Proverbs 19:21 is such an important verse for us because it lets us know two very integral pieces of information about our spiritual journeys in Christ. The first of which is our propensity to make many plans at various times in our lives. In short, to plan is to develop a set of decisions about what we’re going to do in the future. We all do this, even those of us who consider ourselves to be spontaneous. The very practice of spontaneity is a plan to abdicate or ignore constraints. God is letting us know that we make plans as a manner of expressing our humanity. The second juicy piece of wonderful that He also lets us know in Proverbs 19:21 is that He has a purpose, and His purpose will always prevail. So, the big takeaway for us is that our plans should always include God’s purpose.
You and I cannot fathom the depth of how appreciative we should be for this piece of spiritual information. God is telling us in exceedingly plain terms that His purpose, His plan, His strategy triumphs! It doesn’t come in second place, nor is it second best. It’s number one all day, every day. Think about something sisters and brothers, imagine how forceful and powerful the current of God’s purpose and plan is. It doesn’t bend to our wills, but moves forth according to His divine agenda. He has already told us that it will prevail no matter what, so imagine what happens when you bump up against it with something that isn’t in alignment with it. God’s Will isn’t going to flex one bit. Instead, we are the ones who must be flexible.
In the New Testament, let’s examine one of many examples of how rigid the Pharisees were in their laws, rituals, and traditions. Jesus Christ told them in Matthew 12:6-8 The Message (MSG), “There is far more at stake here than religion. If you had any idea what this Scripture meant—‘I prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual’—you wouldn’t be nitpicking like this. The Son of Man is no lackey to the Sabbath; he’s in charge.” Jesus Christ had to set the Pharisees straight and let them know that God is pleased with a flexible heart, and not with all the planning and arranging we sometimes do to stay in our comfort zones.
We think that experience allows us to always articulate results, but Heavenly Father has created the universe in such a way that destiny trumps experience. In the scenario above, both individuals started out with the same level of skill, experience, and readiness, or else they probably would not have been hired. The difference is that one of them failed to recognize that God has the master plan for our lives, and we need to seek Him diligently and attentively so that we’re making decisions and choices that are in alignment with His purpose.
When we get on board with God’s Will, we will soon recognize the momentum of His Plan never ceases. It’s keeps moving, and as long as we move with it by keeping our minds and hearts stayed on Jesus Christ, we will witness the supernatural in amazing ways. If we veer off the path, our only alternative is to brace for impact, because if we’re not on board with God’s agenda, we’re going to collide with a set of unbeneficial circumstances.
Ephesians 5:17 (NKJV) tells us, “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” We can’t always walk in the same lines as everyone else. The ministry that God has called us to will sometimes take us in different directions. We can’t always watch what the person to the left or the right is doing. You may need to also brace for impact of the fact that God may be calling you to do a totally new thing. Even if we start out the same way that others start out, we have to know that at some point we may be called to chart a new course. We will need to be confident that He has both called and qualified us, because sometimes we must march forward alone, with only His guidance and hand to hold us up. Be assured that the only way for us to experience the joy and fulfillment that Heavenly Father has in store is to surrender our plan for His, and to seek Him as we walk in the path He’s called us to.■
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Brace for Impact!” written by Reverend Fran Mack, edited by Kim Times for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2017. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.