Late nights. Research. Strategies. Punching the keyboard, and finally
a proposal. Two hours of presentation to the Board of Directors, only
to find your neatly arranged proposal is stamped with two words--
"Proposal Rejected."
Aspirations. Dreams. Godly desires. A plan in mind, and finally a
prayer of confirmation. Days of fasting unto the Lord God
Almighty -- only to find God rejected your plans by allowing certain
circumstances to take place.
Two builders of two objectives. They have much in common.
They have plans in their minds. They are faithful and committed.
Yet for both the end is determined by their masters.
Both knew they had to adhere to authorities.
I'm reminded of the story of Mary. She was supposed to be married to
Joseph. Suddenly an angel appeared to her and told her she is
supposed to give birth to a son (Luke 1:30-31).
There was a change of plans. Yet I'm amazed at her response.
She said in Luke 1:38, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word."
We may have plans laid out in our lives.
We pray our will be God's will. God, however, doesn't work that way, as mentioned in Proverbs
16:1, "To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes
the reply of the tongue." God had made it clear that our thoughts may
not be His thoughts, neither our ways His ways [cf. Isaiah 55:8-9].
Sometimes, we don't know much about plans. God knows. Learn to trust
and release. Go ahead and plan, but let Proverbs 16:3 be our prayer.
Bear in mind not to lean unto our own understanding, but trust in the
Lord with all our heart (cf. Proverbs 3:5).
He promised to direct our
paths as we acknowledge Him in our plans (cf. Proverbs 3:6).
More than ever, He promised He will never leave us nor forsake us, and
will be with us till the end of time [cf. Hebrews 13:5b; Matthew
28:20b].
I challenge you this day as well as myself, to say what Mary
said, "Be it unto me, according to thy word."
"Oh Lord, whatever it is
to come, thy will be done in our lives!"
Grace and peace,
Elaine
