Reading through the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, reveals God’s thoughtful planning.

Nothing happened by chance. He wisely created everything to fit together very carefully and logically, in perfect harmony. The fish came after water, grass before animals and trees before birds. Then when everything was prepared, God created man. God knew what He was doing and where He was going. What a great example for us.

James gave us some insight about planning, too. He reminds us that we sometimes begin to do something without even knowing what tomorrow may bring. He seems to be making fun of us when he says, “Now listen, you who go here or there…spend a year here to carry on business…thinking you will make money, but not knowing anything about tomorrow.” Rather he says, “Focus on God’s will!” Great advice!

It is important for us to have visions of what we want to accomplish and plans to make the visions a reality. But we get into difficult situations if our focus is on our self-sufficiency or self-importance. We must humbly rely on God, looking to Him first and foremost in all that we plan to do. We must always be close enough to Him to hear His voice, and willing to change our plans when He asks. May our plans agree with His purpose.

Prayer: We ask, Father, that You guide us in all that we do and guard us from being self-centered. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: James 4:13-17 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow.

The only certainty in life is that life is uncertain. We never know, from one moment to the next, what God may have in store for us. Our God is eternal and in control of everything, everywhere, all of the time. And although we may have the utmost confidence in the plans He has for our lives, we must always be alert to His gentle guidance and compassionate care, at times His stern discipline and chastening. We know that He has a plan for each of us and that it is a good and perfect plan.

But we must never become complacent and feel that we have more knowledge about our lives than He does. It is foolish to chart a course for ourselves, close our eyes to His plan, stop our ears to His voice and try to take control of things and plan our future without Him.

Solomon wisely said, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” Plans for any future date can never be certain because we do not know what God may have in store for us. Now, does that mean we are not to plan for tomorrow?

The ability to plan is a gift from God. We see it throughout His carefully crafted creation. Since we are created in His image, we are endowed with the ability to plan. However, the warning contained in this proverb is the folly of presumptuous boasting - doing what we want to do without taking God’s will into our plans. God is in control of His universe and that includes each of us. We must take the gifts He has given us, look for the opportunities He sets before us and seek His guidance.

Prayer: Father, may we look to You each moment of every day asking You to reveal Your plans for us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

“NO! NO! NO!” How many times have parents scolded their children with those three negative warning? Index finger pointing, a furrowed scowl on their brow and a stern warning in their voice to “stop this very instant.” Whether or not the threat works the first, second or third time may well depend on the determination of the parent or the will of the child.

“There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord” is a powerful statement. Throughout Proverbs, wisdom and insight and plans have had their source in and from God. Here it is quite different. Solomon is warning any one who wants to challenge God’s sovereignty to realize that it is a futile battle. He does not say “there is no insight, wisdom or plan” in a combined statement, but he emphasizes each one by preceding it with “NO!”

Whatever we devise apart from God will ultimately and completely fail. We may have carefully and completely researched our goal to replace God’s sovereignty but when applied or put into action, it will not succeed.

Apart from God, everything - including wisdom, insight and plans - will be incomplete. Only in Him and through Him will whatever we do be complete and succeed. What we say and think, research and reason, talk about and work on will have its flaws. And it is not because God wants us to fail. It is because He demands that we depend on Him.

Attempting to do anything without humility, feelings of inadequacy and complete dependence on God, cannot or will not be as successful as it could be with His wisdom and insight. We can expect His blessings if we acknowledge our need for Him to be at the heart of all we do. Apart from Him we have no hope.

Prayer:  Lord, if we are honest with ourselves, we will have to admit that whatever we do will be incomplete unless we depend on You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 21:30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.

James had unwrapped all of his birthday presents except one. It was a small truck that had a bubble of plastic over it that was sealed to a piece of cardboard. He tried desperately to separate the plastic from the cardboard but had no success. Initially he thought he could separate the two by trying to slip his small finger nail between them. But his nail was too short. Then he tried to carefully squeeze the plastic to see if it would “open up” enough space for him to get his hand on the truck. That plan failed, too. Then he put the plastic bubble on the table and pushed on the cardboard thinking that was the solution. Frustrated, he looked at the little truck with longing eyes. It was a prize that became more valuable each time he tried to unwrap it.

Then he looked up at his Dad and asked, “What can I do to get my truck out of the box?”

“Well,” said his Dad, “you could ask for help.”

Every plan that James tried failed. They all seemed sensible to him, but when he tried to make them work nothing happened. Then he lifted his eyes and found someone who would help him successfully achieve his goal.

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps” is worth accepting and applying. We may design detailed, thorough plans to reach our goals, but when we attempt to make them work in our own strength, we become frustrated and discouraged when they fail. It’s better to include the Lord in the planning stage and then work with Him until they are fulfilled.

Prayer:  Lord, we all want to succeed in everything we do. May we always include You from the beginning to the end. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 16:9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

It had been a long, trying and tiring day. It seemed as though there was one demand after another - each more consuming than the preceding one. While sitting alone and looking out the window at a yard filled with pine trees, my little dog Bella came and sat at my feet. Finally, I thought, here’s someone who has come to comfort me.

Shortly after she sat down and looked into my eyes, she began to bark loudly. Not wanting to be disturbed, I tried to avoid looking at her - hoping she would come to the conclusion that I did not want to be bothered. It didn’t work. She persisted until I looked at her, shook my head, got up from my chair and fed her.

What I find so amazing is that she expects to be fed at the same time each day. It is as though she has a plan in place waiting to be executed. But, she does not have the ability to plan. Only man, created in the image of God, has been given the ability to plan. It is a God-given gift and to be used to glorify and honor God. And notice, if you will, that it comes from the heart - our very essence - the sum total of all the gifts God has given to us.

But notice, also, “the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.” We may make the most intricate, time consuming and carefully designed plans for what we think is best for us and others. But, in the end, only God knows what is best for every situation, decision, problem or plan.

We must always recognize the sovereignty of God in all things. We must wait upon Him to speak to us and give us the assurance that our plans agree with His plans!

Prayer:  Help us, Lord, to understand that the best plans ever conceived will fail without Your blessing. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 16:1 To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.

Many doubt that our God is the creator of all that is and in control of what we see as well as what we cannot see. The Psalmist is not one who has any doubt about this fact. Yet, he goes far beyond the majestic statement that we hold dear: “In the beginning God created…” In simple words he acknowledged that “Your hands,” (God) “have made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding that I may learn Your commands.” In other words, he realized that he was more than a creature that began in the mud. He was the most important part of God’s creation and needed God to give him His understanding of things.

“God,” he declared, “You not only took time to make me, but You actually fashioned me for a specific purpose in this, Your universe. I need You, God, to tell me what that purpose is!”

The word “fashioned” is a term that refers to the work of a potter making an object out of clay. Although the same clay may be used for different vessels or objects, each one has been “fashioned” for a specific purpose. The size, shape and purpose of each vessel the potter makes are always determined in the mind of the potter before he begins to form it on his wheel.

So it is with God. His Word tells us that “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb I knew you…I set you apart…I appointed you…” Although God has a plan for us, the Psalmist says we must look to Him and His Word to understand it. He has made us in His image but we must allow Him to fashion us for the purpose He has for us.

Prayer: Father, give us an understanding of Your will and a willingness to follow it all the days of our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 119:74 May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word.

Often, life’s disappointments end up a being one of God’s special appointments. Like a good father, God will not allow anything into our lives that will permanently hurt, harm or hinder us from accomplishing His purpose for our lives. Often, what seems to be an accident is a very special appointment from God waiting to make sense to us.
Quite often I find it disheartening when I hear a Christian say, “This is my lucky day!” or “I can’t believe that I’m this unfortunate!” or “God must not love me as much as He does others or He would have given me that job.”

Life, for the Christian is not chance. It is choice – God’s choice for us. But as He allows things to come into our lives, we are responsible for looking at “it” through His eyes and choose how we are going to respond to “it.”

Consider the story of Joseph. His brothers sold him into slavery. Then, he was falsely accused of doing things he did not do. But, it did not matter. He had to pay the consequences and was thrown into prison for two years of hard labor.

And what did he say to his brothers? “Guess what. You meant to do evil and harm me. But, God turned your evil intentions into good for His glory!” God led him from being a prisoner to becoming a premier!

Our eyes keep us from seeing beyond the immediate – what is right now. But God sees our past, the present and the future He has for us to become Christ-like.

Prayer: Lord, open our hearts and minds and make us willing to accept Your Leadership and Lordship each day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 18:30 As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

A long time, political figure was asked, “How much power does it take to satisfy politicians?”

After thinking about the question for a moment, he responded with a twinkle in his eye: “Just a little more!” And then added, “The more we have the more we want.”

Politicians rise and fall, come and go, do helpful things and some things that seem to cause confusion and chaos. Whatever they do comes from the power that we seem to give them. Or does it?

Insightfully, the Psalmist said, “No one…can exalt a man...It is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another.” After all is said and done, there is no power apart from God. He is Almighty. He rules.

We often think of ourselves and others as being self-contained. We live, we breathe, we walk and talk, we do this and that, but - in fact - we live breath by breath and moment by moment according to God’s plan for our lives. Our physical life, and the life of those whom He allows to have power and influence over us, do so as He wills and wishes.

These are days of turbulence and turmoil, fear and frustration, uncertainty and anxiety. We do not know what is going to happen before our next heart beat. But it is comforting to know that God is in control of everyone and everything. He has fixed limits on their terms and time in office. He also has a plan in place for everything.

God often seems to move at the pace of a snail - but He is indeed moving. We can rest assured that all is well.

Prayer: Thank You, Father, for the assurance of Your Words that Your love and faithfulness watch over us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 75:6, 7 No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt themselves. It is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another.

He who created all things rules everything! Kingdoms that were once great and powerful can no longer be found on a map. Nations that were once feared and wealthy are now weak and impoverished. Countries that once were respected are now looked upon as failures.

God has been, is and always will be the Creator-Ruler.

His sovereignty began when the universe began and kingdoms, nations and countries were in existence according to His divine plan. He reigned before time began and will continue to reign even when clocks cease to tick. “He rules forever by His power.”

His eyes are never closed as He watches over every nation. Deeds that show compassion and deeds that are cruel do not escape His careful observation. Though He is invisible to us, nations are not invisible to Him. He is aware of every citizen in every country and carefully records the actions of the rulers and leaders. “His eyes watch the nations,” wrote the Psalmist.

The rebellious and unrighteous, the godless and the god-restricting will not escape His judgment. No nation has ever succeeded when they have rebelled against God, His laws or His truth. Nations sin, people sin and God warns them and waits for them to repent.

If they repent He spares His judgment and voids their punishment that is rightfully theirs because of their sin. But when nations continue to sin they will collapse from within or be destroyed from without.

Only nations who have honored God have survived.

Prayer: We pray, Father, that our nation will repent and return to our heritage that once followed Your Word. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 66:7 He rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations— let not the rebellious rise up against him.

Many of us, from time to time, ask ourselves the age old question: “If God is God, and if God is a great God and if God is a good God and if God is a powerful God, why does He allow bad things to happen to me and others who have good intentions and want to please Him?”

Deep down we do believe that He is a good and great and powerful God. But that question still nags at our innermost thoughts and feelings and from time to time challenges our faith with subtle doubts. He certainly does have everything under His control and He does desire our very best. But not all things, such as sorrow and suffering, seem good while we are going through them.

I remember very well my mother’s homemade bread. I would return home from school and the entire house would be filled with the aroma of fresh baked bread waiting for some butter and homemade strawberry jam. But by themselves, I did not like flour, yeast, shortening or baking soda. But when Mom mixed them together, allowed them to “rise” and then baked them in a hot oven, the results were amazing and wonderful.

Is that not how God works? Some pain here. A lot of suffering there. A time of grief. Sorrow for a season. Financial problems. Discouragement over a loss. That’s God’s mixing everything together for our good and His will.

Prayer: Father, give us grace and courage to look at our lives the way that You look at them - knowing and believing that everything works for our good and Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

We all have had days filled with discouragement and disappointments. Perhaps more than we care to recall. Often they can be used by the devil to defeat and destroy us.

Think of discouragement. It comes from being dissatisfied with things in the past, a distaste of the present or quite possibly a distrust of the future. When we allow ourselves to become discouraged, we are surrendering our courage to what we have allowed to overcome us. Discouragement is a signal from God that the devil is trying to take away the hope He has given us in Christ. When we feel discouraged we need to take away the “d” and replace it with an “H” and call for “His-courage” to enable us to be victorious.

We also need to realize that our disappointments are, in fact, His-appointments! Nothing enters our life by chance - only by and through Christ. Often when things do not go as we intended them to go, we consider them to be one of life’s disappointments. However, what we need to realize is that God Himself is intervening in our life. He is attempting to get our attention. He wants us to make an adjustment to what we are doing with our lives that is not in line with the plans He has for us.

Not everything that happens to us can be considered “good” - but everything will eventually be “good” for us.

Prayer: Help us, Heavenly Father, to believe that You love us too much to abandon us, care for us too much to harm us and too gracious to keep what we need from us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.