When God Alters your Plans
READ: Proverbs 16: 1-3
"The plans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight,
But the LORD weighs the motives.
Commit your works to the LORD
And your plans will be established."
None of us like having our plans changed by others, especially if the alteration is not what we want. But how should we react when the Lord directs our lives down a path we didn't anticipate?
Knowing God's character and purposes helps us to trust His wisdom - even when we don't understand or like what He's doing. Our response is extremely important. While we can't thwart His work by refusing to cooperate, any stubborn resistance or negative attitude will hinder our own fruitfulness, usefulness, and spiritual growth.
EXPLORE
Who is the Lord?
--> Psalm 135: 5- 6 God is sovereign, and He does whatever He pleases in heaven and on earth.
"For I know that the LORD is great
And that our Lord is above all gods.
Whatever the LORD pleases, He does,
In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps."
--> Isaiah 46: 9-10 He knows the future and will accomplish his good pleasure
“Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me,
Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure'
--> Exodus 3:4-6 The Lord is gracious, compassionate and patient.
"Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in loving kindness and truth;"
--> Romans 8:31 God is for us - not against us.
"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?"
What are His purposes?
--> Isaiah 25: 1 The Lord's plans were formed long ago in perfect faithfulness.
"O LORD, You are my God;
I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name;
For You have worked wonders,
Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness."
--> Psalm 33:10-11 He may nullify human strategies, but His own purposes will be accomplished.
"The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations;
He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
The plans of His heart from generation to generation"
He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
The plans of His heart from generation to generation"
--> Jeremiah 29:11 God's plans give hope and are for our welfare - not calamity.
"For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."
"In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;"
--> 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 When He allows suffering, His goal for us is "an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison (and human comprehension)
"Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.
How should we handle change?
--> James 3:13-16 Hold your plans loosely and leave from God to adjust them
"Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” 14Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil."
--> Proverbs 16:1-3 Commit to the Lord everything you do.
"The plans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight,
But the LORD weighs the motives.
Commit your works to the LORD
And your plans will be established."
--> Acts 16:6-11 When God closes a door of opportunity, remain watchful for another to open somewhere else.
"They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. So putting out to sea from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and on the day following to Neapolis;"
"while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal"
REFLECT
1. What is your first response to an unforeseen change of plans? Does the thought of God's sovereignty over your circumstances scare or comfort you? Why?
2. Have unexpected situations, whether difficult or painful, caused you to distrust the Lord and His plans for your life? How could focusing on His character and good purposes restore your trust?
Find more Bible studies online at www.intouch.org
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from Intouch magazine June 2011 issue "15 Minute Bible Study"
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