January 12

God’s Perfect Plans

Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:15).

Scripture: James 4:13-17

Song: “Have Thine Own Way, Lord”

In his book, The Longview, Roger Parrott quotes a university president who had led his school through many positive, high-impact changes as saying, “You know, the most significant things that have ever happened to this place were never planned.” That certainly characterizes the experience of the Christian school I work for in Thailand. No amount of long-term planning could have foreseen that the Highway Department would start tearing down several of our school buildings less than five years after we constructed them. Yet, God turned this unforeseen “problem” into good by providing our school with the resources to construct new, larger buildings that will allow us to enroll an additional 100 students.

James makes a singular, unequivocal point in this passage. Longterm planning is God’s business. He is the only one who knows what the future holds. Our job is to live faithfully before Him each day and to do our best to do His will.

Of course, we must make plans for the future. But that is never our primary goal. The number one job in our lives is to seek to do God’s will. Then, we will be prepared to take the right course of action when the often unpredictable future arrives.

Father, today we lay our plans before You and ask that You give us eyes to see the opportunities You are placing before us. May all we do today and tomorrow be in accordance with Your will for us. Because of Christ we pray, amen.