As I have grown older, I’ve found myself to be less of a planner. Let me rephrase: God has lovingly forced me to become less of a planner. Even this week, I chuckled to myself as I tacked “that is, if the Lord wills” to an explanation of some trivial plan that I have made. I think a co-worker was asking me what I was doing for lunch.
Growing up, I had pretty concrete plan for my life in my head. I would go to X college, get X degree, marry X man, have X children, vacation to X spots…you get the point. Most of us still plan. But what is it in us that makes us so confident of our future? Even godly pursuits and ambitions have the potential to collapse as our plans, formulated with limited knowledge, quickly warp into mental certainties. As GOD gives us knowledge of one step to walk in obedience, we get overly ambitious in thinking that we know the end. “A” leading to “B” must end in “Z” eventually.
Remember Abraham and Isaac? If I was in Abraham’s place, I would have been…confused. “But, Lord! That’s not what you mean! I must not be hearing from You. If I sacrifice my son, then surely your promise won’t be kept. And you’re a promise keeper!” But alas, yep, that’s exactly what He meant.
In the midst of my own pursuits, hopes, desires, dreams and plans, there have been countless times that I have lost focus of El Elyon, GOD Almighty, Sovereign Ruler.
El Elyon is sovereign over: growth and decay (Isaiah 5:5-7), weather, death & life (Deut32:39), sickness & health (Deut 32:29), fertility (1 Samuel 1:5,6), poor & rich (1 Samuel 2:6-10), judgment and destiny (1 Samuel 2:6-10), light & darkness (Isaiah 45:6-7), well-being and calamity (Isaiah 45:6-7).
“As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand…For the Lord of Hosts has purposed concerning the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations, for the Lord of Hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?”
Isaiah 14:24,27
How is this God, El Elyon, glorified? Humble submission to His infinite wisdom time and time again. Submitting our steps and end results to Him upfront. This is what He desires. This is how He is glorified. And this is how we are satisfied, by entrusting our plans to an infinitely sovereign, but also loving, Ruler.
Romans 11:
36For(AQ) from him and through him and to him are all things.(AR) To him be glory forever. Amen.
well written and a good source of encouragement for me! lylas!