This Month’s Theme:

Decisions God’s Way

1 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
    but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.

2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them,
    but motives are weighed by the Lord.

3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.

Proverbs 16:1-3

A hand is holding a map with a tiny man on it

Reflection

The Lord has the final say on our plans, and that can sometimes cause discomfort, sadness, and frustration, especially when we realise that our fabulous plan may not be in line with His.

When this happens, I try to focus on who God is—that He is still good and just, and His will is perfect because His knowledge and wisdom are perfect. 

There is nothing better than resting in the hands of a God who knows exactly which path is for us and is more than able to establish our steps. 

– Carolina Venegas

Join in the Conversation

It doesn’t matter what I want; it’s ultimately what God wants. 

Is this how you feel at times when thinking about your decisions and God’s will? Yet this makes it seem as though God doesn’t care about what we want, which isn’t reflective of God’s heart for us.

What if, instead of interpreting these verses as God just rubber-stamping or rejecting our plans, we can read them as God warmly inviting us, saying, 

“Hey, you know that I see and know everything. I’m the One who makes things happen, and I know what’s truly good for you. Why don’t you invite Me to come alongside you in your planning?”

God gives us the freedom to make plans and decide. And when we earnestly ask Him to guide us, we’ll experience the deep assurance that comes with His presence.



Reflect

  • As you make plans, what would it look like for you to commit them to God, and how might doing so strengthen your trust in Him? 



  • Topics to explore: 
    • That time I made a wrong decision and how God intervened/helped me out of it
    • That time I knew I made the right decision even though I didn’t like the outcome
    • What I’m learning about the way God guides us in our decisions/plans
    • How God is teaching me to examine my motives
    • X signs/habits that show that we’re committing our plans to God

Need encouragement? Here are some articles to help you reflect:

How I Learned to Give up Control of My Life
How I Learned to Give up Control of My Life
As I prodded through those six months of painful waiting, I realized that throughout my previous experiences, I had not sought God’s guidance for my life, but leaned on my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). Discontented with my circumstances, I had barged ahead and did what I thought best for myself—which led me down a path of unnecessary pain and meaningless striving.

5 Things to Consider When You’re At the Crossroads
5 Things to Consider When You’re At the Crossroads
Are you at the crossroads? Does it feel like your entire future depends on the decisions you are about to make? As you stand at the crossroads, looking forward to unknown futures, here are five things to consider.

When God’s Call Isn’t Clear
When God’s Call Isn’t Clear
People often ask me how I knew God was calling me to be a missionary—to be honest, I didn’t know for sure if He was. Moving to Taiwan from my home in the US was an intimidating decision. So, in the absence of clear direction, I took small steps of faith.

4 Ways to Know It’s Time to Move On to Marriage
4 Ways to Know It’s Time to Move On to Marriage
Our relationship was unusual from the very start. I came from Mexico, and Brian lived in the United States, but we ended up meeting in Hong Kong while working in ministry at the same church. Along with romantic interest in each other, our attraction sprung from a mutual pull towards missions.

4 Things To Consider Before Leaving Your Church
4 Things To Consider Before Leaving Your Church
I was a young Christian when I witnessed my first church split. There was an exodus of members from the congregation I worshipped with. I had no clue how to make sense of what was happening. I don’t really remember who was in the right or the wrong; I simply remember the sadness that lingered when brothers and sisters in Christ part ways under unpleasant circumstances.

6 Questions to Consider If You’re Called to Full-Time Ministry
6 Questions to Consider If You’re Called to Full-Time Ministry
After graduating from Bible college and seminary, my husband Andrew and I stayed in touch with many of our friends—people with whom we dreamed of and prepared for ministry. Within a matter of years, however, many of our friends had left ministry indefinitely.

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Plan, map, steps, path
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