Ambitions, Plans and the Sovereignty of God

 

Proverbs 16:1-33 (NKJV)
¹  The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
²  All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits.
³  Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established.

Note:  My reading of this passage is that it is ok, even good, to make plans for one’s career and life, but to pray and present the plans to the Lord first before acting on them.  The Lord checks, not so much the plans themselves, but the intentions-He “weighs the spirits.”  The action point in verse three; to “commit your works to the Lord,” echoes other passages, like Psalm 37:5 and Proverbs 3:5-6.  The verb “to commit” includes a sense of relief in that they now fall under the leadership and strength of the Lord to bring to completion.  The verb was used to describe a camel being relieved of its load after a long journey.  Make plans, pray about them, see what come to mind and then check your options and see what works out.

 

Psalm 37:5  Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.