A Day-by-day devotional

February 12, 2023

Unplanned

Chronological One Year Bible Reading Plan: Leviticus 6-8

Scripture of the Day: Jeremiah 29:11-14

I am an agenda person. I have been keeping planners for as long as I can remember. I like to be on time. I like my stuff to be totally planned out. That is why, if anything at all unprecedented happens and hampers the plan, I wouldn’t be at my best mood.

Plans. We people make a lot of plans. We draw up dreams, create to-do and bucket lists. We simply believe that we can make things happen if only we do our hardest to achieve them. We work. Then we work harder. And we work some more. Consequently, if it didn’t work out, we would feel as though our life is falling apart. Sometimes, we would even think and believe that we failed to reach our desired goals, because God abandoned us and has not blessed us.

But, do we even think about God’s plans? We may make plans, but it is still the Lord who has the final say (Proverbs 16:9). And the good thing about it, is that all of the time, what we have planned for ourselves is nothing compared to what God has for us.

I conceived many plans that never saw birth. In most instances, I have questioned God’s ability to answer my prayers. Why was He not gracious to me? Why has He not blessed me with what I think is best for me? This is what I have always wanted. Can’t He see it is the only thing that would truly make me happy? Why has He, on this account, not been generous towards me?

I had and still have a lot of questions. Some have been answered. Others not. Still, in each and every time, I would have to take back what I have said to God about not blessing me when my plan didn’t come to reality. I would always see at the end of it, that my plan did not work out, because God’s plan for me, what He had in mind for me, what He has prepared, is way better. Most of the time even, the failure of my own plans is God’s blessing in disguise. It is through the failure of my plans that He has worked to save me from something disastrous that which I cannot foresee.

Many times, it is only when we truly seek Him with all our hearts that we would be able to find Him (Jeremiah 29:13-14). When we do, even the most grandiose plan we have ever thought for our life would seem to be the most absurd thing we have ever thought of.

His plans for us are not only perfect. They are also our redemption!

Reflection: Do you feel like you’re running late and way behind your plans? Slow down for a moment. Let God walk before you. Allow Him to be beside you. He will walk with you and lead you.

Prayer: Father, your plans for me are good. Although I know it, I still often refuse to allow you to work them out in my life. Forgive me for being stubborn. I want you to be Lord over me. I surrender my own plans and give you control of my life. Amen.