If The Lord Wills!
Instead you ought to say,
“If the Lord wills, we shall
live and do this or that.”
James 4: 15
How many times a day do we say or think, “I’m going to…”?
When we say or think in declarative terms, it calls to mind an old
joke, “If you want to make God laugh, just tell Him your plans.”
That’s an overstatement, of course; God doesn’t laugh at His children,
even when He sees the error of our ways. Instead, the saying suggests
that we ought to remember a biblical truth: “A man’s heart plans his way,
but the Lord directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). Whether we remember
every time to say it or think it, all our plans
should be predicated by,
“If the Lord wills.”
That was the apostle James’ advice in a parable he wrote
to his readers (James 4:13-17). He wrote about people
who planned to go to a city, start a business, and
make
money.
James suggested, “Not so fast.” It is wiser to submit our
plans to God and ask for His blessing and guidance since
He has already planned our steps (Psalm
139:13-16).
Today, if you say or think, “I’m going to…,”
remember to leave room for God in your
planning. We plan, but He directs.
"God has no problems,
only plans."
Corrie ten Boom
