Daily Devotional
               Betty Miller shares her daily devotionals which are based on the book of Proverbs in the Bible.   

  The Wisdom of God

Verses for the Day:

Proverbs 19:21(KJV):
21 There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

Proverbs 19:21(NIV):
21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

Thoughts for the Day:

This verse declares the sovereignty of God over the plans of men.  Men may plot and scheme to be able to have their plans come to pass, but only God knows if they will be able to attain them, as He, and He alone, knows the future. If God desires a certain plan to override men's plans, His plans will most assuredly prevail, in spite of all the efforts of a man.  Certainly, as Christians, we are to plan our days; however, we should always be very flexible to change our plans if God directs us to do something different.  I have read many testimonies of how people's lives were saved because the Lord changed their plans and they did not go in a certain direction at the time.  If they would have done so, they would have been destroyed.  That is why we need to be very sensitive as to what God is telling us to do at all times.  It will save us much trouble and heartache when we learn to hear and obey God.

In the book of James in the New Testament, he admonishes those who pursue money and gain as their main goal with these words:

James 4:13-15:
13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

The only safe place for anyone is in the will of God.  If we remain in His will, then we can rest assured that the promises of God will not fail us.   However, if we rebel and declare our plans above His plans for our lives, we can leave ourselves open for the attacks of the enemy to come against us.  If God is speaking to us to do certain things today, it is so that we might be spared pain tomorrow.  He loves us and has the best plan for our lives.  We just must learn to trust Him and not to lean upon our own understanding. 

Proverbs 3:5-7:
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

If we ask the Lord to show us the path to take, or the right thing to do; He promises us that He will show us and He will direct our way. We can trust Him.  He will never fail us. He will give us the strength and wisdom to overcome in any situation.

Psalm 37:4-5:
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

The Lord wants to give us every righteous desire of our hearts, as He is a good God that desires to bless His children.  The only reason He would refrain from doing so, is that we are not ready or able to receive the things we are praying for today. Also, if other people's wills are involved in what we are praying about, He then must wait and work with them until they are also willing. However, if we commit our way unto the Lord and trust and obey Him, He shall bring it to pass.

Prayer for the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you that You care for me.  Forgive me when I fail to trust You and try to take matters in my own hands.  Lord, I know that You have the best plan for my life.  Please give me the grace to accept it and to do the things that you are speaking to me about each day.  Lord, help me to be patient as You work in other people's lives that affect mine.  May I extend to them the same grace and mercy that You have extended to me. Lord, grant me the grace to change the things in my life that are not pleasing to You.   I do delight in You, knowing that Your plan for my life is being worked out according to Your will and not mine. I ask this in the name of Jesus, my Lord.  Amen.