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God's Words For US
by Cecelia Lester
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed.” Proverbs 15:22 (NIV)
We all have dreamed of doing something only to have it not happen. Looking back on my life I believe if I hadn’t been so self-assured of myself, I might have had better results for my efforts. Actually, I might not have tried to do some of the crazy things I did. Can we learn from our mistakes? Yes, we can and we should. If we have questions, it’s all right to ask them to seek guidance on an issue that arises out of our efforts to advance in whatever field we have entered.
I believe Solomon speaks of good counsel. We all know there is a lot of the other kind. If we study the fall of the housing industry, we quickly learn that some lending institutions probably misguided loan seekers when it came to mortgages. There is a lesson there we all need to learn.
“To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue.” Proverbs 16:1 (NIV)
In my Life Application Bible I read that all outcomes of the plans we make are in God’s hands. He wants us to use our minds, seek the advice of others, and plan. In order for God to look favorably on our plans, we have to pray about our goal and the path we choose to reach it.
During my college years, whenever I looked forward to something-a special event, a big date, anything that seemed to appeal to me- it never happened or it didn’t turn our to be as exciting as I had thought. I began to show some signs of depression. I remember my mother telling me that my dad had told her he noticed I got very quiet about things once when my boyfriend was supposed to stop in on his way back to where he lived. He had been on campus about some business, an hour away. He lived five hours in the other direction from our town.
I realize now, as I reflect on that period of my life that God was telling me something but I didn’t listen. I saw this trend continue after I married, but I still didn’t catch on. I adopted the attitude that it was best not to look forward to anything; that way I couldn’t become disappointed. As I grew closer to the Lord I learned to depend on myself less and more on Him.
“In his heart a man plots his own course, but the LORD determines his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)
Without God we are nothing; our words fall on deaf ears. We walk around in a fog-like state when we attempt to forge ahead with a plan. Our days go by but we don’t feel we have accomplished anything.
Several years ago, in my morning prayers I verbally turned that day over to God. I have gotten out of the habit of saying it. I intend to return to that practice. I need to do this in order to find the time to get things done and to work my plans for our house, for the non-profit ministry I work in, for my writing, but mostly, for God.
As I prepare to post this article, I realize the need for God’s approval of my plans. Like all my friends, I want to be in the center of His Will. I have returned to planning my day according to God’s plan and find I am feeling better than I have in several years. I still have my ‘moments’ and know I should rely on God to help me with those times when my plans go awry. I have come to the conclusion that I am a work in progress. How do you find yourselves?
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Cecelia Lester has been serious about her writing for over two decades..
She composes Christian essays and posts them to her blog quietspirit-followingmyking.blogspot.com/
She has served in a faith-based organization, Grace In Action by writing two newsletters and searching for possible grants.
In July 2017, she published her first book, 'Times of Trouble Bring Rays of Joy.'
She and her husband of 54 years live in central Indiana. They have one grown son.
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