Sometimes we wonder about God’s plans for us. We wonder whether they differ from our plans. When our meandering thoughts include everything from a grocery list to getting gas for the car, where does God’s will come into play? How do we surrender our will, wants, and desires to Him—the one worthy of our every breath?
We should begin with “Not my will but Yours be done” as our morning prayer, but it needs to grow into our hourly battle cry. This practice of surrender should be one of our plans. In fact, it needs to be the first plan.
Do I really need to go to the grocery store? If so, I can ask God to help me make it my mission field—His plan. I will be kind and not insist on my own way. I won’t just walk in with my head down, but I will make eye contact and smile for Him.
While getting gas, I can be mindful of the people around me. If there is someone in need, I can ask God to help me be generous.
Yet how does God compete with our individual wills (Proverbs 19:21)? He doesn’t. He lets us choose Him—or not. When I compare my planned day with one of God’s, it usually ends with a deep sigh. I either didn’t accomplish much, or I produced a second-place offering that could have easily been a kingdom-building moment.
As a disciple of Jesus, planning my days around His schedule is a must. After all, it’s what I signed up for—to help build God’s kingdom, His way.
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. His plans will prevail. Make sure you are helping them come to fruition, not hindering them.
Susie Wong has been a storyteller her entire life. Her lessons for either her fifth-grade students or a Sunday chool class were taught through a picturesque, detailed account of the subject. Her two boys were lulled to sleep with their version of a never-ending story. If you ask her husband to tell their engagement story, you’d get three lines, maybe four. If you ask Susie, it’s a four-page story painting a picture of Yosemite with which Ansel Adams would smile. Susie’s books and devotional stories can be found at: amomentwithjesus.net.