Divine Planning

I did not want to go out today. I did not want to go out today. I did not want to go out today.

I had to go. There was something I needed to do but I kept putting it off, longer and longer.

My husband said, “Go ahead. I will take care of the kids. Go, take your laptop with you and get some writing done.”

Free writing time but I still put it off. I just couldn’t bear to go. Then, all of a sudden, I wanted to go, got ready, and went.

On the way I prayed, Lord, You know all that is on my mind tonight. You are going to have to make a plan for what I should write, I have no idea.

I put on the only Christmas tape I could find. “Blech, electronic Christmas music, sounds just like what my keyboard auto-plays.” I tried to call a friend (yes, while driving which is not illegal here, though I admit rather foolish.) She didn’t answer and my phone told me it was dying. I hung up and plugged it in.

I stop in at the thrift store to look for a sweater–it’s getting colder now. A lady there compliments me on my black beret–a Christmas present from my husband and my favorite hat. I chat with the lady at the counter who knows myself and my kids pretty well. Head to the library to pay off a huge library fine, because I finally found the book–a month overdue. The lady at the counter knows us and asks about the kids. We chat about all that has gone on in the last month, she is shocked that such a thing had happened. I leave and head to the coffee shop to return some things I used last night and then spend some time writing.

I get there, grab my coffee, and sit down to write.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I comment on some blogs, write some emails, do some basic maintenance stuff. Lord, I thought You wanted me to write?

Nothing.

A couple sits down right in my field of vision but I try to stay out of their business and keep my mind on writing.

Nothing.

My friend, the owner of the shop, comes over and starts talking to this couple. Eventually he introduces me to them. I spend the next hour and a half chatting with this lovely woman and her husband, who have three children–all with Bible names and all six and under. We barely touch on spiritual things other than when the husband asked what I was working on which meant I had to explain what a blog was and what mine was about.

When I left I realized that this was what He wanted. This was why I couldn’t get out of the house this morning. This was why I put it off all day. This was His plan. I don’t know why. Maybe I will met them again, it is possible because they spend as much time as I do at the coffee shop. Maybe that conversation was all that was needed. They are younger, with younger children.   They needed encouragement. I am praying that whatever His plans are for them and I feel that He has some, that He works them out and that they be teachable.

Only He knows why. However, I know that this was it. This was why I was there, why my husband offered to keep the kids, why it all worked out the way it did. It is so wonderful know that He has a plan and that my ways are not His ways. It is awesome when He shows us that something really was His plan and we just know. We don’t need to know why, just that it was.

Proverbs 16:9
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

Jeremiah 29:11
For 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.

God of Wonders and Author of Peace, today we ask your blessing. Lord, you have promised good to those who love You. Lord, You know our hearts. You know what is best. Lord, today we place all our plans in Your hands. Work them out for good. Change what needs to be changed, adapt what needs to be adapted, remove what needs to be removed. We want to be in Your will. Get us where you would have us.

What plans have you made recently that were not His? What ways has he worked things out that were very unlike what you expected? We worship the God Creator, Author of Peace, the Great Physician, and Lord of Lords. Trust him with your plans today.

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