Best-Laid Plans

I Chronicles 17:1-6

"After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent." Nathan replied to David, "Whatever you have in mind, do it, for God is with you." But that night the word of God came to Nathan, saying: "Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: You are not the one to build Me a house to dwell in. I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from one tent site to another, from one dwelling place to another. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their leaders whom I commanded to shepherd My people, "Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?"

The Living Life writer comments, "like David, many of us may have good intentions and plans. However, we need to be humble enough to allow God to refashion our plans or even change them completely so that we may live according to His will" and then asks us, "what are some ways you can discern God’s will more wisely?", isn't that the question? What first came to mind is frequent prayer, constant communication with God in a genuine desire to gain knowledge of His purposes for me, not simply the good intent that I have and the way I think what furthers His Kingdom. The Apostle James reminds us, "come now, you who say, “today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.” You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that (Jam 4:13-15).” Humility is the first priority: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight (Prov 3:5-6)"; this ought to be the starting point of our prayers. A life conformed to holiness is the next key for when we abide with our LORD Jesus Christ, walking in step with His Holy Spirit severed from the patterns of the world by a transformation of mindset (Rom 12:1), we begin to learn to understand what He wants for us. I have often maintained that God has given us sufficient latitude in what to do with our lives (so not to stress too much), although I really desire to ultimately listen to His 'good-shepherdly' guidance and wise counsel, wanting to ensure to do the things that 'move the needle the most', "redeeming the time" (Eph 5:17), something I suppose that comes with struggle (yes, that stress I'm trying to avoid) and sacrifice in serious prayer and righteous living especially for the things that matter to me the most, as St. Paul expounds further, "because the days are evil", and "therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the LORD’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the LORD, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Eph 5:18-21)." Today let us earnestly pray: "Lord, I want to embrace what You have for me, even if it might be different from what I had planned or expected. Help me to know that Your plans for me are always loving and Your timing is always perfect. In Jesus’ name. Amen."