The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)
Lord Jesus, as this verse was shared with me this morning, immediately my mind went back to something else that was shared with me many years ago regarding decisions: that many of the decisions I make are not the choice between good or bad, but instead between better and best. How often am I, after I have gone to You and asked for direction, hesitant to make a decision and act because I am afraid that things are going to turn out bad? How many times have I been paralyzed because I fear what’s around the corner?
This morning my spirit is reminded of that saying I have coined, “I own the efforts; God owns the results.” Pertaining to this matter, help me to remember that I own the decision and You own the consequences. Give me the wisdom and patience to first seek Your Your guidance and direction. Open to me verses from Your Word that apply to my circumstance and make my heart receptive to receive from Your Spirit what I should glean from them. Only then can I be confident that my motivation and intention is to first please You. And most importantly, grant me the faith to trust that You will do the very thing You have promised to do: direct my path (Proverbs 3:5-6).
As I penned this prayer, I first thought about qualifying which decisions I wanted this to apply to. After all, haven’t You equipped me with wisdom and common sense to make most decisions in my life? However, my heart convicted, reminding me that I want to please You with every aspect of my life. I want You intimately involved in every detail. I want to make You smile when I’m making decisions that are life changing such as jobs or relationships, or life sustaining such as exercise or food I eat. Even if it is no more than to acknowledge Your presence and ask for You to direct my thinking, I want You involved. So make this urge to involve You foundational to my thinking, that I might walk in the light of Your guidance all day every day to Your glory. Amen.