This devotional series examines a verse or two from a chapter of Proverbs each day of January 2017.
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. ~Proverbs 19:21
Each breath is a gift of grace. That is what the Bible teaches about life. God is in control over life and death. For those without Jesus, each breath is another chance to hear the gospel and repent. For those who have come to Jesus, each breath is another chance to love God supremely and love others deeply while walking this earth.
We can, and should, do all we are able in order to live long, healthy and happy lives, but we cannot guarantee our own life in the next minute let alone the next year.
So, we make plans of our days and weeks and years, but we do so with humility. Our plans will only come to fruition if God allows our next breath and the circumstances of life to lead us there. God’s plans, however, are fixed. We often try to turn against them and go our own way. Yet, it is God who accomplishes exactly what he desires.
Even when wicked men plotted the death of Jesus, they only succeeded (at least until the resurrection) because it was God’s will to use that death to save the multitudes who would believe in and follow Jesus.
So, we make our plans trusting that God has the best plans. We make our plans seeking God’s wisdom through his word, prayer, and the counsel of godly people whose wisdom we trust. And then with humility we say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:15).
First Baptist Church 