Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’S purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 19:21) When Tom Watson was CEO of IBM, he elevated a young man to lead a major project. That young executive walked in and said, “I guess you’ll want my resignation.” Watson replied, “You have to be kidding! We just invested $10 million in your education. You’re not going anywhere!” Perhaps you haven’t experienced a loss of this magnitude, but I’ll bet you’d agree with this young man, based on your own experiences, that life can take an unexpected turn. Yet Scripture indicates we can rest on the 100 percent certainty that, regardless of the circumstances, God’s plan will prevail. That doesn’t excuse us from planning and preparation. But it does offer great comfort and even freedom in the process of strategizing, because we know we can never thwart God’s plan. We can set our course, knowing that even if our plans seem to lead to ruin, God will take care of us by His grace and mercy. Our plans always are under the protection of His plans. MIMBS 6 40 Monday—August 21•God’s Plan Will Prevail young man promptly lost $10 million. Watson summoned him to the corporate office. The When have you found God’s overarching plan protecting you in a difficult time? Share your experience with another man. Daily Reading: Job 1:1–3:26, 1 Corinthians 14:1–17, Psalm 37:12–29, Proverbs 21:25–26 Tuesday—August 22•Planning and Faith So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:31–34) Today’s passage encourages Jesus’ followers to live without worry, trusting God to provide the necessities of life. I’ve run into some Christians who seem to believe passages like this require a Christian not to plan. In context, though, this passage simply points out the danger of obsessing over worldly needs and desires. It doesn’t warn about planning for the future, but rather, it warns about following a plan that leads to an unworthy goal. Planning and faith are not mutually exclusive. In fact, Scripture quotes God as saying, “My purpose will stand...What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do” (Isaiah 46:10–11). God is not haphazard. He’s a planner. The secret to success, then, is to figure out how to bring our plans into alignment with God’s. Everything we desire and plan to do hinges on alignment with God’s plan, because as the world’s wisest man Solomon reminds us, “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” (Proverbs 16:3). MIMBS 6 Describe one goal for which you are planning. According to today’s Scripture, is that a worthy goal? Explain your answer. Daily Reading: Job 4:1–7:21, 1 Corinthians 14:18–40, Psalm 37:30–40, Proverbs 21:27
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