The Only Plan That Matters

“There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.”
(Prov. 19:21)

                We make all sorts of plans for all sorts of reasons.  If we want to go on a vacation, we plan where we will go, stay, eat, visit, etc.  If we want to get an education, we plan what school to attend and what program of study to pursue.  Sometimes our plans go incredibly well, and other times they fail miserably.  Sometimes the failure is not our fault, but other times the failure is a direct result of a bad plan.   Being fallen humans, it’s often hard for us to discern whether a plan is good or bad.

                Solomon accurately depicts the human condition – “there are many plans in a man’s heart.”  No matter the situation, we’re often tempted to think that we’ve got an answer among all our internal plans.  When we attempt to execute a plan that didn’t begin with the Lord, we can find ourselves embarrassed and ashamed.  Rather than concocting our own plans, it would be much better for us to seek “the Lord’s counsel.”  God’s primary counsel comes through the Word of God.

                Though our schemes often falter, we can be confident that the Lord’s counsel “will stand.”  It will stand against the onslaught of deceitfulness and the attacks of the Devil.  All of us go through the storms of life, much like ships get caught in bad weather.  When a ship is being tossed to and fro, it’s nice to know that it won’t be destroyed because the anchor is secure.  As you plan all the remaining days of your life, anchor yourself to the Word of God and your plans will be established.