Commit to the Lord, then Let Him Establish Your Plans

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. (Proverbs 16:3)

Why is commitment and the act of following God’s direction so difficult?

For me, it’s because I just like to know.
I like to know where I’m going.
I like to know how long it will take to get there.
I’m not really a fan of surprises…
I just like to know.

What’s interesting about this verse is that it tells us to commit to the Lord “whatever we do”.

God cares about you. He cares about your plans and your desires.

Many times we spend too much time trying to discern the exact will of God.

If God created you with a purpose and for a purpose then you can reasonably conclude that the dream inside of you was conceived by God. Put there for a purpose... and ON PURPOSE. Click To Tweet

If you’re not hearing from God not to do something and your plans don’t violate any biblical principles, God’s silence may be a sign that he is fine with whatever you decide.

After all, He did give us free will.

If we weren’t actually free to make choices then God would be some sort of puppeteer and master manipulator.

That’s not the God I serve and certainly not the God of the Bible.

One prayer that has helped me tremendously through the years is simply praying “God, I feel like this is the direction I should be going. If it’s not your will, please close all the doors and stop me from moving in that direction.”

Side Note: This isn’t a prayer you say if God has already told you no and you’re doing it anyway. This is a prayer you use when you’re unsure or you feel you haven’t heard from God.

It’s also not a prayer you use if God has told you to wait.
Sometimes, he tells us to do nothing.
Doing something, is not nothing.
So if he told you to wait, then wait.

I don’t know about you, but just sitting around waiting is one of my weaknesses.

It’s hard for me to not try to make something happen.

Yet, sometimes God instructs me to just wait.

If you’re in a time of waiting, here is a blog post to help you through it.

God created you intimately and uniquely, with a purpose and for a purpose.

He created you and everything about you all the way down to the DNA that makes you who you are.

At the end of the day, God’s going to use whatever you do to his glory and for his purposes anyway.

This is true no matter what path you take.

Your Purpose Vs. God’s Purpose

So what happens if you’ve committed what you’re doing to God and he’s given us direction or told us to wait… but we don’t like either answer?

My advise is to do it what he’s asking.
Wait or move forward.
Take action or stop taking action.

Listen to God and do what you feel led to do.

The worst thing you can do is try to establish your own plan.

You see, if we move forward or refuse to move, God’s purposes will still prevail.

Romans 8:28 tells us that “All things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to his purposes”.

The Israelites were scared to storm the promise land, so God let them wander for 40 years and then gave the land to the next generation.

Jonah didn’t want to go to Ninevah.
So he didn’t.

In the end, he was swallowed by a whale and vomited up on shore.

Whether you interpret this story as literal or allegory, the point is the same.

The will of God will not be subverted.

Then there is the story of Lot and his family basically being evicted from Sodom by an angel that told them not to look back.

But Lot’s wife couldn’t help herself so she looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt.

There are many more stories of disobedience in the Bible and the conclusion they all lead to is that it’s better to obey.

Whatever life decision you are making right now, listen to God.

Even if it doesn’t make perfect sense or you just simply don’t want to do it.

Imagine how much you love your own children. You would protect them even if it meant they were initially unhappy.

God is described as our heavenly father, so he wants to protect us and he has great plans for you if you’ll only be obedient to him.

Commit to the Lord, then Let Him Establish Your Plans Click To Tweet

In Conclusion

I can’t say it any better than scripture:

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and HE will establish your plans. (Proverbs 16:3)

Pray like your plans are up to God, commit those plans to God, but work like they are up to you and keep your ear open for his guidance (he will direct your plans).

If you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we encourage you to start one.

Live Boldly and God Bless.

Jason & Daniele

Questions for Reflection/Action Steps

What dreams, desires, skills, or passions do you have that just might have been placed there on purpose by your creator?
What plans in life do you need to turn over and commit to God?
Is there a decision in your life that you feel God has been silent on? Is it possible he is okay with whatever you decide? If so, make a decision in the next 24 hours and pray that he opens and closes doors to lead you where he wants to lead you.