Plan - Psalm 139:16

     "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." 

  It can be quite startling to suddenly discover that you are the center of attention. I would speculate that you always are the center of your attention, but did you realize that you are also the center of God's attention. He knows you. He formed you. Looking at scripture, Isaiah 49:16 - "...See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands..." That's God talking to us! He not only knows us he has us firmly in His hand... until and unless we jump out of it. And yes, we do. But He comes and picks us up again.

  Many of us are great at drawing up plans and some of them we actually put in practice. But... do you ever consider your plans in light of God's plan for you? It really is important if you want to be in His plan, His will for you. Remember Jeremiah 29:12 
          "I know the thoughts I think toward you, thoughts of peace
           and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Proverbs 16: 9 explains this point by saying, "A man's heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps." Which confirms that the Lord is involved. However, His involvement is based on our relationship - if He actually is our Lord.

  Plans are a methodology, a way of getting to the goal. The moment we don't allow input then we limit our success. I'm a goal setter, a planner and I didn't always consciously involved the Lord in what I was thinking. Finally I came to the understanding that He was interested in being involved in my life, not just acknowledged on Sunday. It also means that I have a partner in my various endeavors, that I'm not alone. It doesn't mean that every venture I become involved in are ones that I should be, but it does mean that when I attempt to follow how He leads then I can move forward confidently.

  There's a great sense of peace when I know I am moving in God's plan for me. This also tells me that if I'm not feeling confident then I need to stop and assess what's happening. The plan may still be valid but the timing isn't. Or there are tweaks to the plan that need to occur. My point is that to not involve the Lord at the beginning of the planning session tends to waste time and cause regrouping. I do hope I learn to follow how He leads.