“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”—Proverbs 3:5-6
I have been considering going back to school for a new career. It makes sense to me—kids are getting older, job market has changed, I feel the need for change. I visited a school the other day and sat through their spiel about their programs and then took a tour. I have surfed the net looking at potential jobs, job descriptions, and other programs. I have my plan and I intended to move forward. As I have journeyed down this road this week, I have had doubts, concerns, and hesitations about a number of things. Yet, I kept trying to keep my plan…
Until I went to Bible study yesterday. My group learned about the armor of God, specifically that we need to wear the shoes that tell the gospel of peace. We learned about God’s peace, God’s deep peace that we can have, even if the circumstances around us are difficult or challenging. God’s peace comes with being in the will of God, surrendering our will and truly pursuing what God wants with our lives. I have realized that I have not had peace lately. I have been running ahead of God, down a path of my own devising. A wise woman in our group described a speaker she heard once that talked about God’s Plan (Plan A) and our plan (Plan B). This speaker described how so many times we follow our Plan B. And if we are doing that, we need to throw it out and follow Plan A, God’s perfect plan. Easier said than done.
God used three people yesterday to tell me what direction to go, so I surrendered my plan up to God, and now I feel deep peace. I don’t intend to move forward with my Plan B, because it doesn’t feel right and doesn’t give me peace at this time. Maybe in the future it will, but not now. I will now pray and seek God for His will and know that He will lead me to it in time.
The Bible is full of examples of humans who have tried to run their lives with Plan B, instead of Plan A. We are a species that likes to be in control, that likes logic, that think if something “makes sense”, then it is the direction to go. And so many times, those plans do not bring peace, but unease and anxiety. Yet we try and try to make our Plan B “fit”.
Do you have Plan B that you are following that leaves you without peace? Examine it and determine if it is from God, then pray for guidance to change. God will give you perfect peace as you surrender your life to Him!
Prayer—-“God, so often I don’t follow your plan and venture off on my own Plan B. Help me recognize when I don’t have your peace and teach me to obey and follow you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
Prayer For All Days 