Planning Ahead (Daily Refresh, 7-19-26)

Think about your upcoming plans for the day, week, year, and beyond.

Maybe you want to start a business.
Maybe you want to raise a family.
Maybe you want to write a book.
Maybe you want to travel the world.
Maybe you want to start a ministry.
Maybe you want to volunteer in your city.
Maybe you want to plant a garden.
Maybe you want to pay off debt.

Scripture tells us …

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19:21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Making plans isn’t a bad thing. In fact, the Bible tells us that we will harvest what we plant (Galatians 6:7), so we should be diligent—not lazy—to wisely prepare for the future. But we must simultaneously hold those plans loosely, because God knows the full picture of our lives.

God is always working in and through His people, giving them the desire and power to do what pleases Him (Philippians 2:13). But sometimes, we require rerouting. Sometimes what we want isn’t in His plan.

But even when we don’t get what we’ve hoped for, He always has our good and His glory in mind. 

Jesus modeled how to surrender His own plans by literally giving His life up for us—for our freedom. And, even though it wasn’t easy, our lives and our futures look different because God’s purpose prevailed.

So today, make a list of some of your plans and dreams. Then hold your hands out in front of you, and visualize giving all of your dreams and plans over to God. Picture all of those plans evaporating from your hands. Then, ask God to show you which plans He wants to give back to you and if there are any new dreams He’s longing for you to receive.

My Thoughts

Like just about everyone, I make plans and then get deeply disappointed when they don’t happen. For example, I had plans to travel a lot this summer, so spend time with grandchildren and to visit other family members. But none of that has happened because of my ongoing health issues.

Even simple plans, like going to Sunday school and church on Sunday sometimes fall by the wayside because of things like asthma attacks and breathing treatments.

I am taking to heart the lesson this devotional to hold onto my plans loosely, giving them to God. Small plans, big plans, all plans are in His hands. Sometimes He will give them back to me when I give them freely to Him. Sometimes He has better plans that serve His greater plan and His glory, so I have to be willing to wait for that to unravel and for Him to reveal the better purpose to me.

It all boils down to trust. Do I trust God’s plans more than my own? I can honestly say that I am working on that but I haven’t arrived yet. I want to let go of my desire to control and God is teaching me every day that His way is better.