Release: 10 Days to Embrace God's Plan for Your LifeSample

Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. PHILIPPIANS 4:6 CSB

So often in my own life, my first reaction to a situation has been to gather all the facts and then make a plan of action. Once I’d made my plan of action, I’d go to God in my daily prayer time and ask Him to bless my plans. If things didn’t go my way, I’d find myself confused as to what went wrong. I was left broken and unsure about everything. Then one day God said to me, “You prayed last, not first.” It was as if I realized why I had failed the test. In my efforts to fix the situation, I ran ahead of God and asked Him to bless my plans. But Scripture says, “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail” (Proverbs 19:21).

Pray about everything. In order to know the Lord’s plans, we must first seek Him before we decide what to do next. This doesn’t come naturally to us. Our flesh desires control, and we desire to do things our way. Submitting our mind, will, and emotions—also known as our soul—to God’s will requires intention. We must get into the habit of stopping ourselves before we respond to any and every situation. This daily habit can form a new way of thinking and reacting that allows us to seek His face and get clarity and direction before we respond.

God is not a genie to who we submit our wishes and wait for Him to grant them. He is a Father who has a perfect will and plan for our lives. He knows what we can and cannot handle. As a mother, I wouldn’t give my three-year-old son—no matter how bad his temper tantrum might be—something that would harm him. Because he’s not mature enough to understand why something might hurt him, I allow him to cry through it. Eventually, his will gives in and moves on to the next thing. One day when he is older, healthier, and wise, he will realize I was trying to keep him safe. Our Father God has knowledge and understanding of the entire world—the beginning and the end. So when our plans don’t go the way we want them to, we must thank God and realize He knows and has our best interest in mind.

Prayer:

Father, help me overcome any disappointments when my plans don’t go the way I thought they would. Even with my best intentions, I know that I want Your perfect will for my life. I release my will, my plans, and my desires into Your hands.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.