Leave Room for God / David Jeremiah

 

Leave Room for God Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” James 4:15    How many times a day do we say or think, “I’m going to…”? When we say or think in declarative terms, it calls to mind the old joke, “If you want to make God laugh, just tell Him your plans.” That’s an overstatement, of course; God doesn’t laugh at His children, even when He can see the error of our ways. Instead, the saying suggests that we ought to remember a biblical truth: “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). Whether we remember every time to say it or think it, all our plans should be predicated by, “If the Lord wills.”

Recommended Reading: James 4: 13 – 17

That was the apostle James’ advice in a parable he wrote to his readers (James 4:13-17). He wrote about people who planned to go to a city, start a business, and make money. James suggested, “Not so fast.” It is wiser to submit our plans to God and ask for His blessing and guidance since He has already planned our steps (Psalm 139:13-16). Today, if you say or think, “I’m going to…,” remember to leave room for God in your planning. We plan, but He directs. God has no problems, only plans. Corrie ten Boom