Heart Plans and Jesus
When I went to my Saturday coffee shop this morning, I didn't expect to be wiping tears and blowing my nose with awkward napkins in front of fifteen other casual Saturday coffeeists. But the Holy Spirit often does the unexpected... This morning, he led me to a passage of scripture I've read a hundred times, and out came the snot and tears. Allow me to share...
Proverbs 16:1 "To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from Yahweh comes the proper answer of the tongue."
I have always seen the correction in this verse: We get it wrong, and God tells us so. Somehow, I had never seen the grace here: that despite our mistaken plans, God gives us the right answer. He does not just leave us in our mistake, but tells us the correct way and leads us in it. I sat there, overwhelmed by his grace and the humility it caused in my heart.
Lord, I submit my plans for my work to you, because you know the right answer.
I submit my plans for my family to you, because you know the right answer.
I submit my plans for my finances to you, because you know the right answer.
I submit my plans for my future to you, because you know the right answer.
Lord, you have my life in your hands. Thank you.
With every realization of God's wisdom and faithfulness, with every surrender and letting go, comes a brokenness, a grief, a relief. Thus... the snot and tears. And peace.
The next verses drive this fatherly provision even further home.
Proverbs 16:2-4 "All a person's ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by Yahweh. Commit to Yahweh whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Yahweh works out everything for its proper end - even the wicked for a day of disaster."
How things change when we look through the lens of a loving father verses a punishing ruler... Again for the first time I am seeing the grace of God in these truths. He does not leave us in our impure motives, in our wicked plans, even when we think they are good. As we commit our way to God, he refines not only our hearts but also our plans, even if that means bringing disaster. I don't know about you, but today, I was overwhelmed with gratitude that my heavenly father will not allow me to continue along an impure path with impure motives. He will do whatever is necessary to stop it and bring about the good. How many times have we started out on a path that we thought was good, but it ended in destruction? Praise God! He did not allow it to continue. That is a much deeper grace than a God who would allow me to continue on a path that in the end led to death. God's commitment to our good and his activity in our lives to bring it about, regardless of our own plans and intentions, is his ultimate provision for his children. Knowing this, where is the fear? Where is the fear of doing the wrong thing, leading the wrong way, not getting it right? Jesus brought us in, and God will ensure it was not in vain. That is good news. Here's a tissue.
Proverbs 16:1 "To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from Yahweh comes the proper answer of the tongue."
I have always seen the correction in this verse: We get it wrong, and God tells us so. Somehow, I had never seen the grace here: that despite our mistaken plans, God gives us the right answer. He does not just leave us in our mistake, but tells us the correct way and leads us in it. I sat there, overwhelmed by his grace and the humility it caused in my heart.
Lord, I submit my plans for my work to you, because you know the right answer.
I submit my plans for my family to you, because you know the right answer.
I submit my plans for my finances to you, because you know the right answer.
I submit my plans for my future to you, because you know the right answer.
Lord, you have my life in your hands. Thank you.
With every realization of God's wisdom and faithfulness, with every surrender and letting go, comes a brokenness, a grief, a relief. Thus... the snot and tears. And peace.
The next verses drive this fatherly provision even further home.
Proverbs 16:2-4 "All a person's ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by Yahweh. Commit to Yahweh whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Yahweh works out everything for its proper end - even the wicked for a day of disaster."
How things change when we look through the lens of a loving father verses a punishing ruler... Again for the first time I am seeing the grace of God in these truths. He does not leave us in our impure motives, in our wicked plans, even when we think they are good. As we commit our way to God, he refines not only our hearts but also our plans, even if that means bringing disaster. I don't know about you, but today, I was overwhelmed with gratitude that my heavenly father will not allow me to continue along an impure path with impure motives. He will do whatever is necessary to stop it and bring about the good. How many times have we started out on a path that we thought was good, but it ended in destruction? Praise God! He did not allow it to continue. That is a much deeper grace than a God who would allow me to continue on a path that in the end led to death. God's commitment to our good and his activity in our lives to bring it about, regardless of our own plans and intentions, is his ultimate provision for his children. Knowing this, where is the fear? Where is the fear of doing the wrong thing, leading the wrong way, not getting it right? Jesus brought us in, and God will ensure it was not in vain. That is good news. Here's a tissue.
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