Proverbs 26, 27
My Verse: "Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring" (Proverbs 27:1).
When hearing someone speaking elaborate plans for their tomorrows, I find myself wondering at their confidence. They speak with such assurance! They speak as if there is no question that their plans will come to fruition. Is this being boastful or is it simply planning ahead?
I have tended to be hesitant about my future. I know that there are so many contingencies - and I cannot factor them in because I do not know what those contingencies will be. And yet, I do know, LORD God, that You want me to look forward with confidence - confidence that You will lead and guide me in the way You will have me to go! So is that hesitancy doubt? Doubt in Your ability to see me through? Forgive me my doubting heart! You do teach so much about this in Your Word!
You tell us that we are to do things in an orderly and organized way - i.e. with a plan in mind.
"Prepare your work outside;
get everything ready for yourself in the field,
and after that build your house" (Proverbs 24:27).
You also tell us that we should seek the counsel of others.
"Without counsel plans fail,
but with many advisers they succeed" (Proverbs 15:22).
But You also tell us not to be over confident.
"Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit" - yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, "If the LORD wills, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil" (James 4:13-16).
In reading all that You teach in Your Word, LORD God, I understand that I am not to be boastful, but I am to be mindful how I live - "not as unwise but as wise".
For You, LORD God do have plans for me.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope"(Jeremiah 29:11).
I need to live with confidence that You will lead and guide me. (Psalm 48:14)
I am to do my part by living intentionally for You, LORD God. (2 Corinthians 3)
I am to trust You to get me back on track when I fail. (Psalm 46:1)
I can plan for my tomorrows with confidence if I do so with Your guidance, LORD God. (Psalm 25:5)
I can plan for my tomorrows with confidence if I do so always with You ever before me in that planning. (Psalm 59:10)
Finally, I can live with the assurance that You, LORD God keep all things together! "And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:17)!
My boasting can be in You as I plan and look forward to my tomorrows!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: "Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring" (Proverbs 27:1).
When hearing someone speaking elaborate plans for their tomorrows, I find myself wondering at their confidence. They speak with such assurance! They speak as if there is no question that their plans will come to fruition. Is this being boastful or is it simply planning ahead?
I have tended to be hesitant about my future. I know that there are so many contingencies - and I cannot factor them in because I do not know what those contingencies will be. And yet, I do know, LORD God, that You want me to look forward with confidence - confidence that You will lead and guide me in the way You will have me to go! So is that hesitancy doubt? Doubt in Your ability to see me through? Forgive me my doubting heart! You do teach so much about this in Your Word!
You tell us that we are to do things in an orderly and organized way - i.e. with a plan in mind.
"Prepare your work outside;
get everything ready for yourself in the field,
and after that build your house" (Proverbs 24:27).
You also tell us that we should seek the counsel of others.
"Without counsel plans fail,
but with many advisers they succeed" (Proverbs 15:22).
But You also tell us not to be over confident.
"Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit" - yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, "If the LORD wills, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil" (James 4:13-16).
In reading all that You teach in Your Word, LORD God, I understand that I am not to be boastful, but I am to be mindful how I live - "not as unwise but as wise".
For You, LORD God do have plans for me.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope"(Jeremiah 29:11).
I need to live with confidence that You will lead and guide me. (Psalm 48:14)
I am to do my part by living intentionally for You, LORD God. (2 Corinthians 3)
I am to trust You to get me back on track when I fail. (Psalm 46:1)
I can plan for my tomorrows with confidence if I do so with Your guidance, LORD God. (Psalm 25:5)
I can plan for my tomorrows with confidence if I do so always with You ever before me in that planning. (Psalm 59:10)
Finally, I can live with the assurance that You, LORD God keep all things together! "And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:17)!
My boasting can be in You as I plan and look forward to my tomorrows!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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