Planning for the Future while Trusting God’s Provision

God, you are sovereign. And I am responsible for living according to Your will. I live between the call to trust You and the Call to act. Lord, I admit a struggle at times on when to do which and the temptation to be imbalanced -- thinking I am responsible solely. I over plan at times. I am tempted toward anxiety, fear, over-control, over-responsibility, perfectionism and anger - because often I feel it is all on me to make things happen. And yet on the other side, I can be tempted the direction towards laziness, passivity, stoicism*, fatalism*, and indecision - when I drift towards thinking it is all up to You. I know God you encourage me through Your Word to be wise and prayerful in my planning recognizing that You are responsible and I am responsible, too. God, from the beginning you show me that You planted the garden of Eden but tasked Adam to "work it and keep it" (Gen. 2:8, 15), thus showing me your provision and my responsibility. You provide instructions, such as working six days, working enough each day to provide for my needs, and then resting on the 7th day, trusting You that I can rest, that you will providentially provide. Work is a part of living, and with my ability to work I am not to be a burden to others and yet can help others in need (Eph. 4:28). There are limits and I can only accomplish what you enable (Ps. 127:1-2). Remind me to be generous with what You have given me and yet not to the point that I tempt others to not work or provide for themselves. Give me plans for the money You provide, not simply hoarding it with no purpose. And yet this could mean at times you taking all that is mind for your purposes, even if I don't see those purposes clearly, but in this I can still submit to your loving and good purposes. Keep me walking close to You God in prayer, devotion, learning, guidance, direction - reminding me that my work matters and it is all according to Your purpose and will. Amen. 


[Note* stoicism - the endurance of pain or hardship without the display of feelings and without complaint; fatalism - the belief that all events are predetermined and therefore inevitable.] 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Perhaps losing a relationship

Lord, thank you for speaking to me and helping me see that deep down my desire for people to know Christ is often colliding with my desire for people to like me. I am trying to manage both instead of choosing and trusting you for the outcome - and making knowing Christ most important. Yes, God, help me to know or how to know when to "lose" a relationship potentially and speak more frank to people about faith. Yes, I want there to be great outcomes by me doing this in which people come to know You after I have taken the attitude of losing the relationship, but Lord, I know also know I can't make that a formula. Heavenly Father, if I lose this relationship because I spoke about You, as hard as that loss would be for me, I would be OK with that. Free me up to venture and view relationships as a steward, not control it as if it were my possession. You are the Sovereign Master. Have Your way. Lord, I pray that I would be a faithful steward to You in all things. Help me to not ...
Read more

Titus 3:1-7 Prayer

I've started something a little different lately and that is as I'm listening to sermons or reading Christian articles, rather than taking notes, I'm turning those notes into prayers. I am patterning this off of John 17 and Jesus (High Priestly) Prayer as he spoke theology in those verses and confirmed truths with the Father while also praying for His disciples and for all believers.  Here is a prayer after reading and studying Titus 3:1-7 Thank you God for your salvation. That we are not saved by our works. But You remind me of my need to do good works. You have set and established rulers over us. You remind me to obey You first and foremost. Lord, make my speech gentle, humble, and be gentle to all people. I am reminded God that I once was foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures. I have been captive to passions and pleasures. Make me more understanding of lost people’s current condition. You are my Savior. You have saved me by Your kindness...
Read more

July 25, 2024

Lord, what a privilege it is each day to grow in my relationship with You because I know each day how prone I am to go a different direction. I struggle Lord daily to seek my own will and think that my life is meant to serve myself. I thank you for the time to reflect on You and all that You have for me. Help me to have my day defined by You and then to know how you are leading me. I feel at times that You speak to me in so many ways. And yet I am not sure that my focus is securely on You, but I thank You that Your spirit is at work in me, speaking to Me and giving me strength and direction each day. Guard my steps. Help me to follow Your guidance so that I find wisdom to serve You in every situation. Keep me humble as I am often not serving You or have that tendency each day. Keep me productive. Keep me doing what I should be doing. As Peter might have been misguided in his approach with you thinking that He was doing good, keep me focused on the big picture and remembering the words ...
Read more