Our plans sometimes change, that’s a fact of life. We plan things and at the last minute something happens, and they get put on hold or canceled altogether. Today’s Bible Journaling verse reminds us that our steps are guided by God. “Even a courageous person’s steps are determined by the Lord, so how can anyone understand his own way?” (Proverbs 20:24 CSB) The Bible says we cannot understand our own way or plans because God has planned our steps. He is far above us in how He thinks and so we cannot always understand what He is doing in our lives.
Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” (ESV) Whenever we make plans, we need to remember that with all our planning, God ultimately has the final say. He sees the bigger picture of our lives, more than we can see, and He knows what the best way for us is to go. We need to be so aware of His leading, listening to the nudges and sometimes the out loud responses of guidance He gives us. Isaiah 30:21 tells us, “Your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” (NASB 1995) Even when we are disappointed when our plans go sideways, it could be for a very good reason. Maybe God is protecting us from something, or maybe what we have planned is good for us, but God may have something even better for us.
As we live out our daily lives, we must remember that the pathway we are walking is new ground to us and therefore, it could be confusing, and we are not able to understand the what and why of the journey we are traveling. Only God knows what is ahead for us, and He is the only one we can trust to lead us in the right direction. “I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23 ESV) Jeremiah realized that he couldn’t trust himself in directing his own steps, but he needed to trust God to guide him.
God’s guidance can be attributed to our Spiritual lives as well. Hosea says, “Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; Whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, And the righteous will walk in them, But transgressors will stumble in them.” (Hosea 14:9 NASB 1995) God leads us with wisdom and uprightness. We can plan our lives out in what we will accomplish for the Lord, and yet, ultimately, it is God who will lead us into what He wants for our lives. Ten years ago, I never would have considered writing a blog to encourage others in the Lord. That wasn’t even on my radar! It wasn’t until God placed a pastor in my pathway, speaking a Word of Knowledge over me that I am here today writing a blog. God took my idea of what my life was to look like, primarily being in Christian broadcasting, and turned it upside down. So, I stepped out in faith, trusting Him and praying the whole time, and began to write and incorporate Bible Journaling with my writing. As I look back, I can see how God used things like my working in Christian broadcasting as a correspondent, learning Bible Journaling, and sitting under many Bible teachers on radio and television, which gave me the tools I needed for this ministry that He has given me.
When our plans change, are we attentive to the leading of the Holy Spirit? Do we listen to God’s directions for our journey? Do we willingly follow Him even though we may not understand? Remember, “Even a courageous person’s steps are determined by the Lord.” Let Him guide you to what He has planned for you.
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