It is good that we are starting out our day in God’s presence, inviting Him into our day, because He is the only one with THE PERFECT PLAN for us today – the plan that offers us prosperity, hope and a future. To follow through on James’ advice from last week, let’s start our day by submitting to God and whatever plan He has for us. Let’s draw near to God so that He and He only has our full attention. Then the response of our heart will be – not my will, God, but Yours!

Now listen you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live or do this or that.” As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.

Anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. – James 4:13-17 (NIV)

I am a planner. I like it when my life is rolling out just the way I expect it to. I feel most comfortable when I feel like I am in control of my circumstances. I desire for God to be in control of my life, but I want the result of that control to look just like I expected it to – MY PERFECT PLAN. Yet, in those moments when the future seems uncertain or scary, I am comforted by these Scriptures:

“I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book before a single one of them began. – Psalm 139:16

We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. – Ephesians 2:10

From one man He has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. He did this so they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, “For we are also His offspring.” – Acts 17:26-28

These verses strike me right where I’ve been for the last 4 years. I had my plans all laid out – plans to raise my girls in Normal, plans to work for Living Alternatives for many more years to come, plans to stay close to my family, plans to grow old with my Church friends. But God had different plans – He had “appointed times” and boundaries of where I would live. My faith was most definitely put to the test when God moved us to Texas. Would I submit to God’s plan?

I did and we settled into a new life in Texas. We fell in love with the new church, new community and many new friends God gave us. We fell in love with the culture of Dallas and, again, I started laying my plans out. Then God reminded me that He is the One who holds the plan. Again, my plans were shaken when God moved us out of our new comfort zone into the next phase of our life. A new decision lay before us, one in which we had to decide between our plans and God’s plans.

On the other side of that decision, I have to say there is no better place to be than in the center of God’s will – right where He wants me to be. But He continues to challenge me even today. Am I starting to lay down my own plans for today or will I trust Him and seek His will for how He wants to use me today or tomorrow or the next day. In submission, I need to draw near to Him, staying focused on Him, asking for wisdom, and seeking Him.

Listen here, you who say “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog – it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise, you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil.

Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. – James 4:13-17 (NLT)

I can’t ignore that last verse – If there is good that God has asked me to do and I choose not to do it, I am sinning. I can avoid God today so that I don’t have to take the chance that He will ask me to do something I don’t want to do OR I can submit and draw near to God. This is the great part – If I draw near to Him, He will draw near to me. Oh, how I love to be in God’s presence! It’s worth the risk. 