Let's make some plans

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:13-15

Oh, how love to make plans. We really need them set and figured out. Most of us need the details hammered out before we'll even breath. Having a plan is great, but James says here that we don't even know what will happen tomorrow. How true this is. Do we make plans at all then? We shouldn't sit around and make no plans at all. Where is the middle the ground?

First off, I don't think there is anything wrong with making plans. God doesn't want sitting around inactive doing nothing. When making plans we need to keep two things in mind. First seek God's will. Do the things in your plans align with the things God wants for your life? Second don't put all your hope in your plans. Don't make your plans, your new "god."

Just make sure your plans have these two things. James and I have plans to stay married to each other the rest of our lives and have children. These aren't bad plans. There's plenty of proof in the bible that God wants us to stay married and have children. We are also aware that there are things we can't control, and God calls one of us home before the other, we are both willing to follow God's will. I'll even admit in the beginning, I won't be thrilled. I'll need to deal with it, but I will eventually move on with God's will for my life. We've talked about the children thing. We'll try having children ourselves, but if that doesn't work out, we willing to adopt. We plan on seeking God's will through out the whole the process.

There are other areas where it might not say anything in the bible about the plans we want to make. Things like where to live, and what job to do. I feel though that if you are working at your relationship, He will help you figure these things out. Door will open and close. You can also ask Him to help figure what his plans are. I asked God, that if he cared about where we lived, that we need a nice big neon sign. As we made calls, and appointments to see different houses, I watched for signs. We only had one person who set an appointment with actually meet, most people didn't even return our call. I took this as a neon sign. As next school year approaches, I've begged and pleaded with God to let me go back downstairs and be with the little ones, but I also feel a burden on my heart to stay where I am, so what do I? I seek God, and advice from friends. I listen to what if feel is my God showing his will to me. 

Plan making becomes a problem when we put all our eggs in one basket or when we ignore the fact that the door is shut and clearly locked, and we start searching frantically almost to our own ruin. The making of plans and not checking with God, assuming we know what is best for us. These are all times when plan making is a problem.

Remember we are just a mist and we only have tomorrow because God has willed it. It's ok to make plans, just don't write them in ink, don't be upset when God changes, don't build everything on them, and check with God as you make.