Foundations Week 20, Day 3

Scripture Read: Proverbs 16 - 18
Title: Man's Plans vs God's Plans 
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H.E.A.R. Entry
(H) Highlight verse:  "The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.  All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit.  Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established."  Proverbs 16: 1- 3

(E) Explain: It is very important to seek God’s will and allow His will to overshadow our will.  We often make plans and sometimes God interrupts those plans, this is often true for so many of us as we are determined to do what we want and end up not being sensitive to hearing God's plan.  We plan.  We set goals.  We create and cast vision and mission statements, but sometimes we fail to seek God’s will over our desires.  Sometimes our will and God’s will do not line up.  Sometumes our desires and plans are not bad, sinful or selfish, but they are not what God has willed at this specific moment.  This can be frustrating on a personal level because we put a lot of time, effort and resources into our plans just to see the door closed on us.  We think we have wasted all of our time, effort and resources when in reality the closed door is pointing us in the God’s direction.  Pastor James Montgomery Boice writes, “We need to understand that ‘closed doors’ though they are a type of negative guidance, are nevertheless true guidance.”[1]  

(A) Application: :  
It is important to be sensitive to the Spirit of God and flexible to change when God is the one who initiates the change.   So, how do we know we are in God’s will?  How is it that we can make sure we are doing the right thing He has called us to do?  Here are a few suggestions to help you determine…

1. God reveals his will to us through his Word.  He may be speaking to you through a passage.
2. God may reveal his will through visions and prophecies
3. God may use circumstances to reveal his will
4. The counsel and advice of other Christians
5. Through prayer
   

• Prayer is not just a tool for you to tell God what you want; it is also a means for him to communicate with you.  You cannot hear from God if you are not talking to Him. 

(R) Respond: LORD, may I be sensitive to your will and calling in my life.  I want your plans, desires and purposes to be my plans, desires and purposes.  

[1] Boice, James Montgomery: Acts, Grand Rapids, Baker Books, 1997 p. 274​