GOD'S PLAN OVER MY OWN PLAN

Philippians 2:19-24 says, "If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon." As Paul was under house arrest, he intended to send Timothy to Philippi to encourage them on his behalf if the Lord Jesus would allow it. Timothy was half Jewish with a Jewish mother and a Greek father (Acts 16). Timothy came to know the Lord through Paul, who discipled him, becoming a spiritual father to him. Since the beginning of Paul's second missionary journey, Timothy had been traveling with and assisting Paul in preaching the gospel. Timothy was with Paul when Paul initiated the church in Philippi, so the Philippians knew Timothy very well. They knew that Timothy was a trustworthy person who cared about them. At this time, Paul had confidence in the Lord that he would be released from house arrest and see them soon, but he was sending Timothy first to encourage them and hear about how they were doing. 

One of the lessons that we can learn from today's devotion is Paul's hope and confidence in the Lord. Paul made all his plans under the direction of the Lord Jesus. He submitted to God his desire to send Timothy to Philippi for approval and depends upon the Lord Jesus for the realization of his plans. Paul's confidence was in the will of God. When making plans, we should seek God's will regarding them. Too often, we try to fulfill our plans and ask God to bless our plans later. Not so with Paul. He first submitted his plan to God and waited for God's approval. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." We become less disappointed when we allow God to direct the outcome of our plans. If God closes a door to our plans, He has a better plan. God knows what is best for us.

If we have complete confidence in God, we will surrender all our plans to Him and let Him decide the outcome of our plans. We need to be willing to let go of the control and let God be God for our future by following His will, even when our plan contradicts His plan.

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) What should I do first when I have a plan? Why is it important to surrender my plan to God before I try to fulfill it? Do I have complete confidence in God that He knows what is best for me?

Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for reminding me today that it is important for me to acknowledge you with all my plans because you know what is best for me. Please help me not to rely on my own understanding, but to trust in you completely, putting my full confidence in your plan for my life. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.