The Perfect Plan

My Rebecca and Stephen, 2004

"You can make many plans, but the LORD'S purpose will prevail." (Proverbs 19:21)

When our amazing son-in-law asked for Rebecca's hand in marriage, he presented my Phillip with a ten year plan. According to "the plan", children were "supposed" to arrive between years five and seven. Nine months after the wedding, however, the newlyweds called and read the poem: "Our plans have failed, and God's have prevailed" - babygrand #1 was on the way, and by the time they celebrated their 5th anniversary, we had three babygrands!

God's plans are perfect.

God's plan of salvation:

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

God's plan for work:

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men.: (Col. 3:23)

God's plan for marriage:

"A man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh... Wives be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord... Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her."

(Ephesians 5:31, 22, 25)

God's plan for parenting:

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and your mother so that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth. Fathers...bring  up your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." (Eph. 6:1-4)

God's plan for a blessed life:

"I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your children, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)

"For I know the plans that I have for you," declares the Lord,  "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." (Jer. 29:11) 

Beloved, whose plan are you following - your own or God's?