God Has A Plan, You Have A Plan

Psalm 119:12 - "Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees."

A couple months ago, Duane Liftin, the President of Wheaton College came to speak at Wooddale Church. I had never heard Duane speak. You could tell that Duane was from the world of academia. I loved listening to his stories, and the way that he weaved his message around a central theme. At one point, Duane talked about a bumper sticker that he had seen on a road, not long ago. The bumper sticker said,

"God has a plan
You have a plan
Your's doesn't matter."

He was speaking from Psalm 127.

In Psalm 119:12, David is giving praise, once again, to God. And, he, once again, is asking for God to help teach him his decrees. So, why does David spend so much time talking about God's law? For one, that's what this Psalm is about. It's David's great psalm of praise for God's perfect law. For another it's because God's ways are truly better than our ways.

In James 4 we read about the person who thinks that they can plan their entire life apart from God. It really is an exercise in eternal futility. James writes, "Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.' As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."

Take some time today to praise God, for His will. We don't always like it. Sometimes it causes us to question. But, it's always good. Whether we believe it or not. God loves you. Allow Him to teach you His decrees.

Dear God,

Thank You that You love us. Thank you that I have a plan and You have a plan, and that mine doesn't matter. But, thank You too that even though mine doesn't matter, You care about it. And, thank You that when I stray, You stand ready to forgive.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.