Love BeyondSample

Love Beyond Your Plans:
Today, we’re talking about love beyond our plans. The truth is that love often disrupts our carefully laid plans (which are almost always shallow-sighted, anyway!), both in marriage and in our relationship with God.

God's Sovereign Plan: Proverbs 19:21 (NIV) reminds us, "Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Despite our best efforts to chart our own course, God's sovereign plan ultimately unfolds. His love guides and directs our lives in ways we may not anticipate, leading us toward His perfect will.

Marriage Requires Flexibility: Proverbs 16:9 (NLT) states, "We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps." In marriage, our plans must be flexible, allowing room for God to intervene and shape our journey together. His love teaches us to yield to His leading, even when it diverges from our expectations.

Trusting in God's Providence: Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) assures us, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." God's love extends beyond our immediate circumstances, encompassing His providential care for our lives. Even when our plans falter, His purposes remain steadfast.

Embracing God's Will Above Our Own: Matthew 6:33 (NIV) instructs, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Love prompts us to prioritize God's will above our own desires, trusting that His plans are far greater than anything we could imagine. Surrendering to His guidance brings fulfillment and peace.

Submission to God's Timing: Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT) reflects, "Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end." Love teaches us to submit to God's timing, recognizing that His purposes unfold in His perfect timetable, not ours.

Love beckons us to relinquish our plans and embrace God's sovereign will for our lives. Whether in marriage or in our relationship with God, His love surpasses our human intentions, leading us on a journey of faith and trust. As we yield to His guidance, we discover the beauty and fulfillment of aligning our lives with His divine purpose.