You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.
Proverbs 19:21 NLT
Many summers ago, according to my to-do list, I was failing.
I had blown so many self-imposed deadlines. Major goals on my list remained unmet. Even small projects around the house were back-burnered. With the kids home, my day was a symphony of constant interruptions, sounding like the clatter of breakfast, the rushing toward music lessons, the whirring of the washing machine.
In an effort to stay sane, I prayed the same prayer every single morning: “God, help me to make choices today that honor Your plans for my life.”
I determined to follow God’s agenda rather than trying to convince Him to help me carry out mine. This is no small task for a woman with a rather robust inner control freak. There are times when I secretly hope God will empower me to plow through my to-do list rather than equip me for His.
But God is totally on to me. The old saying, “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans,” summed up my summer. Sure, there were moments of terrific productivity. But often, my daily prayer led me miles away from the office.
As it turns out, that summer was exactly what my agenda-driven heart needed. Which is to say, my soul needed a place to breathe. My soul needed days of cute kittens, impromptu picnics with my girls, kayak rides, and petunias—alongside satisfying days of productivity.
I can’t simply walk away from my work, of course. But I have surrendered my agenda to the God of The Calendar. I choose to be sustained by the belief that God will help me complete the work He has called me to do . . . in His time.
Maybe you’ve been like me—caught between your grand plans and your actual life. Maybe you’ve been feeling a little panicky that what you intended to do, simply hasn’t gotten done. Maybe what we all really need right now is to remember that God has this all under control. We get to simply pray, “God, help me to make choices today that honor Your plans for my life.” Amen!
Thank you! Great reminder for someone who often allows herself to be bossed around by the tyranny of the task list . . . Sigh . . .
I needed this today; thank you!
Amen. So good to hear others struggle like I do. I write this as I look at the never ending to do list. So thank you for the reminder of what I truly important.
Thank you for such a timely reminder to allow God to order our steps every day. Bless you.
Thank you so very much! It is like you were in my head. I’ve been feeling like I am failing for the last few months. You have given me encouragement for this morning. Thank you for sharing your heart and your faith. And for reminding me, I am here to fulfill God’s plan for my life and to be open to whatever that may be,even if it’s not on my daily to do list or brain dump list.
Jennifer thank you for what you wrote today. We are all human especially women we expect things done now. If not we ask why is not done now. Why do I have to wait. In all if you prayed to God about the situation and asked God to help you. You say God were are you why are you not helping me in all this that I am going through. God has made me wait. I said God why are you not helping with this. God said I am teaching you patience Dawn. Which at one time I didn’t have. To trust me I have you here were you are for the very purpose to teach you patience and keep looking on to me and praying to me. Especially when time gets hard and tough. They will God said then said Dawn I am by your side I will never leave you are forsake you. I will help you be able to get through it. I will not take it away as if I did you not learn patience and how to pray for me to give to you the patience when you most need it. I found that time and time again with my Dad who has the start of Dementia. Days he ok days he is hard work. I found with me having a learning disability. I can at time find it hard to have patience and this why God wants me to stay do my Dad’s home tidy it so many day a week for him. To teach me patience. Even when a day he is hard work and made a mess and made more work for me he doesn’t know that. I have to see my Dad in Love of God and keep Loving him and keep my cool. Remember God says it not him it mind has him the way he is on bad day. Smile and be brave and patience with him show him love at all times no matter how hard it is. Yes days it ok others very hard. I am with God’s help have tolearn to let God lead me in this do things his way not mine and in his time. There are times I do think I am failing in this. As I can see me griting my teeth when my Dad hard work. Having to say Lord help me and give me real patience here. God always does. So as to stay calm and have real patience with my Dad in those times. Pray every day I do my Dad’s that he will give me real patience with my Dad no matter what his mood. Always show him the love and show him the love of Jesus. Tell him always God said that you love him and are even though he might not understand your praying for him and his Salvation as my Dad not saved. With out God and doing it in God timing and God helping it would be hard. I fell I was going fall and not be able to do my Dad’s. All I want for my 85 this month is before he dies one day. To know he saved. I don’t want him to leave me anything just to know I will see him in Glory one day with Jesus. That he has asked Jesus to be his saviour before his time up on earth. Nothing better could my Dad give me. Especially before he Dementia gets worse. As if does he never get saved. Before he was diagnosed with it he just laughed at me. Did want to know about being saved. I glad my Dad sent with my late Mum to Sunday school. As it was the done thing when I was small. As there I first heard about the love of Jesus. I am thankful to my Dad and late Mum for that. My late Mum was not saved either. I didn’t know if she got saved before she died. She knew I prayed for but you couldn’t tell her as she say don’t preach to me. My Dad the same. Thank you for what you wrote Jennifer it has spoke to me. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little Enniskillen Co.Fermanagh N.Ireland xx
OMGOSH Jennifer…Just what I needed to read and be reminded. Thank you \0/
You also reminded me how often I make God laugh xoxox
Dear Jennifer…..I loved your devotion today. I took a bad fall in all this snow and ice and am really sore all over my body. Honestly, I haven’t been able to get any of my ” to do’s ” done the last week so I am praying to God about what I should do to “catch up”. He said that I need to rest and pray for healing. “God help me to make choices today to honor Your plans for my life ” Amen. I’d like to write more but I have to go lay down due to the severe pain I have. I will pray for help with my healing. Thank you and love to all of you who daily read and comment. I don’t know you, but every one of you help me with your words and bring a smile to myself. I feel as if I have many friends here. Love, Betsy Basile
Hi Betsy! Praying you receive healing and feel better soon. ❤️
Hi Lisa……Thank you for praying for me. That was so kind of you. Being alone like I am is difficult when you don’t have anyone to help you Hopefully I will feel better soon. I very much appreciate your words. Betsy
Thank you, Jennifer! I’m retired, so most days my “to do” list is short. But I generally give myself grace.about that. Right now I’m focusing on making new friends, so I cave to lunches out, walks with my blind friend, visiting my friend who has dementia. And I’m reaching out to people, too, who are not handicapped. So some days, I skip my housework and laundry.
Thank you for the prayer Jennifer
Blessings
“…God will help me complete the work He has called me to do . . . in His time.” I sense I am entering a season of transition and I am working real hard to keep my mind disciplined so as not to obsess over all of the details that will accompany it. I was listening to a podcast this morning and was reminded that things typically work out a little at a time. One thing at a time. And reading this today was another gentle reminder that He will help me…in His time. Thank you.