Many Plans
“Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.“
Psalm
90:12 NLT
How do we live? Does one day follow the next, in an endless replay of the same habits and events? Are we more concerned with what’s on our agenda than how we’re growing spiritually? Do we resemble the rich fool in Luke 20 who said to himself, “Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”?
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’“ (Luke 12:20 NLT)
Paul warned believers of the seriousness of doing what is right in the sight of God, because their “time is running out“. Instead of indulging their “evil desires“, he told them to put on “the shining armor of right living“.
“This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here.“ (Romans 13:11-12 NLT)
So what does God require of us? Micah 6:8 says He requires us “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.“ (ESV)
“I firmly believe that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and ambition and self-seeking and every thing that is contrary to God’s law, the Holy Ghost will come and fill every corner of our hearts; but if we are full of pride and conceit and ambition and self-seeking and pleasure and the world, there is no room for the Spirit of God; and I believe many a man is praying to God to fill him when he is full already with something else.“ D.L. Moody
Are we over confident in our own abilities and strengths, and give the Lord second thought only when we come up against a wall?
“Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.“ (James 4:13-14 NLT)
“None of us have a long time to live…what years we have, let us live them with God. If there is any suffering, it will be sweet, even pleasant, while we are with Him…without Him the greatest pleasure you could ever have would be but anguish.“ Brother Lawrence
“You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.“ (Proverbs 19:21 NLT)
“What is the secret to great living? Entire separation to Christ and devotion to Him. Thus speaks every man and woman whose life has made more than a passing flicker in the spiritual realm. It is the life that has no time for trifling that counts.“ Amy Carmichael