Do you make long range plans?
“I have a plan.” Was my husbands favorite phrase when we were raising our children. A plan to build a car, a barn or a swing, it all began with a plan. It got to the place where the kids would say, “here comes dad, watch, he will say, “I have a plan,” as soon as he hits the door.” And sure enough as soon as he would walk through the door he would say, “I have a plan!” and everyone would laugh at his predictability.
‘TO A MOUSE’, a poem by Robert Burns has a quote. ‘The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men / Gang aft a-gley.’ Which translates as: The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. No matter how carefully we plan things in life, something may still go wrong with it. Like when my husband built a scaffolding to put a new roof on our very tall house. He had a great plan, except he made it so heavy it couldn’t be moved! It worked well where he could reach the roof from it, but the plan had a fatal flaw and scaffolding didn’t come down for years after the roof was done.
Sitting here in the airport, the plan is to fly to Washington. I am one of the lucky ones whose plans didn’t get changed due to last nights storms. Others are not so lucky, as I watch them scurrying around rescheduling and trying to make connecting flights on time because of the delays.
Thank goodness our heavenly father knew us before we were born and had a plan for us if we will submit to his will. But many of us fight to remain in control even if it means our plans go awry more times than not. The Bible tell us he has only good planned for our lives if we can give him control. Life can be great if we, ‘let go and let God!’
As parents we need to teach out children to pray for the Lord’s guidance. To pray before they make any big or small decisions in their lives, so they can make the right choices. Remember, ‘thy Word is a lamp unto my feet,’ so each step can be put in the right place. And ‘a light unto my path,’ so they can see where they are going. Help them stay in the Word daily!
We as writers have a plan in mind when we begin any new writing. But as we all know, sometimes a story can evolve into it’s own plan, derailing ours in the process. They call that creativity!
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, [and] I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Jeremiah 1:5
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
I Corinthians 2:9
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Jeremiah 29:11
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
Psalms 32:8