In his bestselling book, “The Purpose Driven Life”, Rick Warren wrote, “You cannot fulfill God’s purpose for your life while focusing on your own plans. As we come to understand how to live a life of surrender to the Father, we must turn our attention towards God’s plan for our lives. Proverbs 19:21 says, “There are many plans in a man’s heart; nevertheless, the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.” It’s one thing to surrender to God when we receive Jesus as our Lord. It’s yet another thing to abandon our own plans and take up the plan of God for our lives.
I remember when Tonya and I were first married. We took some trips that caused us to drive through a certain city, and we would look at each other and say, “We will never live here!” Sure enough, God called us to that city and we lived there for six years. That city turned out to be a place of blessing for us during that season. Thank God we set aside our plans and took up the Father’s plan for our lives!
Often time, we want God to approve our plans and allow us to do whatever we want. The heart behind that attitude is opposite from the instruction we learn from Jesus. The rich young ruler wanted Jesus’ approval but when Jesus told him to sell everything he owned, he walked away sorrowful. Jesus then told his disciples that when we surrender our lives for the Kingdom, we will receive God’s reward both in this age, and in the age to come. God’s way always brings God’s rewards!
My prayer for you today is that as you seek God, and He reveals His plan for your life, you will have the courage to take up His call and surrender to His way.
Reading: Matthew 16:24-27; Mark 8:35; Luke 18:22-29