Many are the plans

It has been said that our plans amuse God!   We can all certainly think of plans made at different stages of our lives that have come to nothing and perhaps seem foolish or naïve in retrospect.  Compare the innocence of lambs which have no plans to those which litter the graves of every human being!  Does that mean to say that it is wrong to plan?  Have we not been given brains to weigh up options, consider priorities and find the best solutions to problems?  It is the direction and motive behind every plan that is of greatest significance.  Is the goal solely to satisfy self, even at the expense of others or perhaps in some way to have disregard for God’s ways?  

  • ‘The Lord knows all human plans; he knows that they are futile’ – Psalm 94:11
  • ‘Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails’ – Proverbs 19:21

There are many lessons in life, some easier than others.  One of the hard lessons is that not all our plans are right nor will they all succeed.

  • ‘God has his plans and his reasons. Sometimes we are supposed to go through things so that we learn lessons’ – Dolly Parton
  •  ‘Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes… but no plans’ – Peter Drucker
  •  ‘Failed plans should not be interpreted as a failed vision. Visions don’t change, they are only refined. Plans rarely stay the same, and are scrapped or adjusted as needed. Be stubborn about the vision, but flexible with your plan’ – John C Maxwell
  • ‘Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans’ – John Lennon
  • ‘If at first you don’t succeed try, try and try again’ – Robert the Bruce

Architects are the quintessence of planners. Christopher Wren began building St Paul’s Cathedral in 1675 with the roof line being added in 1722.  Wren was also an astronomer, so he planned the height of the dome at three hundred and sixty-five feet as a reminder of the number of days it takes the earth to circle the sun.  Yet some of his plans were overruled for the interior décor, much to his annoyance.  Wren the planner is buried in the crypt with a simple plaque in Latin that states: ‘If you seek his monument, look around you’. It was the tallest building in London from 1710 to 1963 but was eclipsed by Renzo Piano’s iconic building, The Shard, standing at 1,016ft high. With 95 floors and over 11,000 glass panes, construction workers were amazed to find a fox on the 72nd floor which they nicknamed Romeo!  Completed after more than 10 years in 2013, lifts to bypass the 54,000 steps travel at 6 metres a second.  Piano’s plans had to overcome many obstacles and the result met with a mixed reception with some saying it was a glass tear through the London landscape, and hence the nickname.

Not everyone will like your plans either but you need to know that God has a plan for your life.  It is a good, pleasing and perfect plan which a person does well to seek and to walk within for all God’s plans are good and for the best, your best.  If you know it IS God’s plan, then be tenacious and let nothing move you from it.

  •  ‘For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you’ – Jeremiah 29:11-12
  • ‘May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.  May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests’ – Psalm 20:4-5
  • ‘All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans’ – Proverbs 16:2-3
  •  ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight’ – Proverbs 3:5-6

We should hold our plans lightly, handling them with humility and the innocence of a lamb.  Lining our plans up with God’s Will and seeking first his Kingdom is true wisdom.   God has a BIG plan and it is our privilege to be part of it.  If there are plans that need to be laid down, God will give you grace for that and will show you another way.  Better to let them die rather than carry pointless plans to the grave!

On Purpose

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