Proverbs 16:9 A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.

When you have plans and you just cannot see any way for the plan to be accomplished, it is frustrating. If you have ever written a business plan, you can relate to the complexities. A good plan has a clear goal in sight. So many times spiritually speaking we trust in God to get us there. Often we develop the plan and believe God for the plan, rather than the goal. In the opening verse we see the ever looming “but”.

Think of this “but” as being a resource. Every step toward a successful goal should be a progressive step in the right direction to accomplish a short term task in support of the goal. If you feel that God has given you a heart for the mission field, do you buy a ticket and fly off to some remote country where you don’t speak the language and have no means of support? I hope not. Having a heart for a calling is great but the plan needs more details that mere willingness.

This is an exaggeration of the idea, but serves as an example of understanding your calling in terms of following God thru each step of the process rather than just jumping in heart first without understanding your spiritual preparedness. Even Old Testament men who were asked by God to do mighty works had one thing in common. They had a specific detailed instruction born out of relationship, not passion.

Understanding that God will direct each step will help you improve your plan as you walk in obedience to faith and will help eliminate frustrations. Don’t check the plan for answers, check with God for direction.

2 Timothy 2:21b be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

If you will read second Timothy you will see there is more to preparedness than just being a vessel.

Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

I don’t like suffering. After becoming a Christian I have often wondered why didn’t God just make us perfect. You know, immortal, powerful, able to stand in His presence. At the right moment God answered my question.

“I did.” Whoa, wait, you did? “Yes and they rebelled against me.”

Then I understood, the angels were God’s created perfect sons. They also were created to serve God, just as we are created. Yet we were created a little less than the angels. We are not immortal, we aren’t powerful, we cannot come and go from this realm to eternity and back. So why did He give them free will? Because God is perfect love and love doesn’t make demands on those it loves.

I’ve come to believe that we suffer, so that when we are perfected, and we will be perfected, we will have a history of suffering to compare with perfection. We will have a proper appreciation for perfection, having been less.

Having an understanding of that, perhaps it would be appropriate to have a proper appreciation of our salvation. Salvation is not offered to angels. In that we are set aside and special in God’s eyes.

Psalm 30:12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.