Plan A+

"Commit to the LORD whatever you do and your plans will succeed."

 Proverbs 16:3

What a promising verse, but it doesn't stand alone.  Notice what changes when we read it with the before and after verses:

"All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD.

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

The LORD works out everything for His own ends - even the wicked for a day of disaster." Proverbs 16:2-4

     Committing our plans to the LORD means we give Him input, not that we have a carte blanche to plan against His will.  What a relief! We don't have to come up with the perfect plan.  

     Why should we commit our Plan A's to the LORD? First, He can pick out from them any seeds of frustration, laziness, anger, selfishness, or misguided priorities to make our Plan A a Plan A+.  He's more interested in the character of the "planner" than the plan. He's concerned with how we arrived at the plans we bring Him, and if we're honest, our plans are almost always for our advancement and good rather than His.  Committing our day, our way, our say to Him means He interferes and saves us a world of hurt.  He evaluates motives as well as our actions.  He's not a "bottom line" God but a God of the journey toward results and output. 

     Proverbs 16:4 gives us a second reason to commit our plans to the LORD.  He alone can bring spiritual results that glorify Him.  We may think of ten ways to witness, another ten classes to start, or a dozen mission trips to take, but God alone can work everything out for the greatest benefit to the greatest number of people and Himself.  We commit our plans to the Lord to keep from spinning our wheels and wasting energy on what we think might work.

      Thank You, Lord, for not sitting back and laughing at our plans. Thank You for not waving us on to do whatever we like. Wrap Yourself into our hearts so the plans born there reflect Your priorities, Your love, Your goodness and Your goals. 

In the Name of Jesus Who fulfilled the greatest, most perfect plan of all