Planning One's Way

Scriptures:
Proverbs 16: 1 – The plans of the mind belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

Proverbs 16: 9 – A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.

Proverbs 16:33 – The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly from the Lord.

Reactions: I read all of Proverbs Chapter 16 today, but the three verses above resonated with me the most. They are all saying the same thing in slightly different ways, which I really liked. And since I do like to plan things out in my mind, I got a very applicable message from these verses: Go ahead and plan if you want, but remember that God is the master planner, the director of all.

I especially liked verse 9, because it reinforces God’s presence as a guiding force in my life. I do have a general plan for me life, but I also need to be aware of when God is directing me to take a little detour, or perhaps a different path altogether. During my meditation I became a little distracted with my plans for a fitness class I’m going to teach, and I was a little disappointed in my distraction. But then I had the notion that the Lord had a role in these thoughts, and was helping to direct me to a solution. So I thanked Him for His guidance, and continued repeating verse 9.

This prayer session also raised a question that I’ve pondered many times in the past. Just how much does the Lord intervene in our daily lives? Verse 33 implies that His involvement is quite active, so that result of a dice roll is decided by Him. I know that we have a free will, and I believe that most circumstances in life are influenced by an all-powerful God. Yet I do believe in the power of prayer, and I am certain that God is with me when I ask for his strength and grace. Though I really don’t have a feel for “how much” the Lord intervenes, I think the question is irrelevant. I know that He does on occasion whisper to me the ways of wisdom and truth, and often guides me along paths that are safe and sure. I just need to be attuned to His guidance, and know that if He does have an ultimate goal for me, that I will be compliant enough to follow His plan, and not my own.