Read chapter in full: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Proverbs+016
Proverbs 16 (ESV)
1 The plans of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the spirit.
3 Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established…
9 The heart of man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps…
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.
REFLECTION:
“The answer of the tongue is from the Lord,” which means man proposes but God disposes, and the final result of our plan is in the hands of God. But with that said, why should we plan? In fact, when doing God’s will, we must match our efforts with God’s management. He wants us to think for ourselves, seek the opinions of others, and make plans. Of course, the result is all in Him, and the plan is just to help us act in God’s way. Since you live for God, you should ask Him to show you how to plan, and then rely on Him to do what you planned. Some people did not really entrust what they did to God, but temporarily handed over their own affairs to God to manage them. When the situation was different from what they expected, they took over it; some people did not work hard at all. They used “commit to God” as an excuse for laziness and questioned why they were not successful. We must maintain a wise balance between “trusting God and relying on Him in everything” and “working hard and doing our part in everything”. Think about the hard work you are doing now. Have you fully entrusted it to God?
PRAYER:
Ask God to guide your steps so that you can be led by Him in everything; ask God to give you wisdom so that you can maintain a good balance between “working hard” and “committing to God”. You can do your best, and at the same time you can entrust the results to God, without worrying or thinking you are always right, knowing that everything has God’s good will.
HYMN:
In Christ Alone: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWiFYJMGas0&ab_channel=masihjcm
