“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” Proverbs 16:9
I was writing. Early morning. I had prayed and praised God. Worshiped Him. Planned to study His Word. To listen. But I felt compelled to write. So I started. But I wanted to go back to my original plan. Yearning for Him. For His Word. Hungry for more of Him. I could come back to the writing later. He is my highest priority, and I LOVE to begin my day in intense personal time with Him. But I had such a strong sense God wanted me to finish the piece I had started writing. But God, this isn’t my plan!
His Spirit tugged at me. Pulled me. Led me. Quietly. Gently. Compellingly. He wanted me to lay aside my plan and continue writing. But God, this isn’t my plan! I was wrestling with Him. Then conviction came like it usually does. Strong. Hard. Real. Raw. Necessary. Unavoidable. Persistent. Until I paid attention. His Spirit gripped me. Held me. Until I surrendered. He didn’t speak words to my heart like He often does. He spoke a thought. His Truth.
No, it was not my plan that day. But it’s also not my life. It’s His. See, I belong to Jesus. He purchased me on the cross. He died for me. He bled for me. He rose again for me. He took my sins on Himself and paid the penalty for them on the cross by taking my punishment, condemnation, death, hell, and the lake of fire, and separation from God on Himself so I could believe in Him, turn to God and His ways, and have a forever relationship with God. I am bought with the price of His life which He sacrificed for me. I am God’s daughter now. I am also His servant. He tells me in His Word to glorify Him in my body (1 Cor. 6:20), to give my body to Him as a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1), to do all that I do for Him (Col. 3:17, 23), to be crucified with Him (Gal. 2:20), and to live for Him. He wants me to die to myself so I can live for Him. According to His ways. To fulfill His plans. In His time. For His glory.
Following Christ isn’t an easy life; it’s anything but easy on the flesh. Dying to self can be excruciating! But oh the thrill, the joy, the blessedness of drawing ever closer to Christ in the process.
My flesh didn’t get its way that day. I got infinitely better. More of Jesus. More of God. More being in His will, more loving Him, more pleasing Him, closer to Him, ever closer, learning to follow my beloved Jesus Christ, my Lord, my Savior, forever. Learning to leave behind the me-me-me and to live and breathe for Christ!
Will you leave behind your plan? For Christ’s sake! Let the Lord establish your steps. Follow Him.