Read
The Lord
1We humans make plans,
but the Lord
has the final word.
2We may think we know
what is right,
but the Lord is the judge
of our motives.
3Share your plans with the Lord,
and you will succeed.
Reflect
When I was a kid, my mom was having one of those parties in our home where people see samples or catalogues of items and then place their orders. In one of the catalogues, I saw a t-shirt that reflected exactly what I believed about myself. On this t-shirt were the words “General Know It All.”
I wanted this shirt as a badge of honour to tell the world that whatever my opinion was, it was the right opinion and plan. My mom bought the shirt, and to others, it became a perfect symbol for how they saw me: someone whose thoughts and ideas and ways always seem right to themselves, but someone who, in the minds of everyone else, is obviously filled with pride.
In Proverbs 16, we are brought face to face with the lies of our own heart. Nobody makes decisions in life thinking “I know this is the wrong decision for me.” Every person has convinced themselves that they are right in what they are doing or in how they are doing it. God steps into the equation and says that our motives are weighed by God.
God knows what your motives are for every action you take in life. In some cases, we are trying to fool others and God, but God is not fooled by us. God knows what is really in our heart.
The key is for us to commit our ways to the Lord. The idea is that we should trust God with our plans. We should be humble enough to ask God to examine our hearts and motives, and confident enough in God to know when we need to act – even if other people may misinterpret our motives.
When we commit our ways to the Lord, he will fill our tongues with the right words to say and make our plans to be firm because they are really his plans.
Is there an area of your life where you are just kidding yourself that what you are doing is right, but God knows what is really going on in your heart? Are you trying to be a “General Know It All” before God?
Respond
Father God. Search my heart for things I am doing that do not reflect your heart or plans. Give me humility to commit my ways to you, and courage to act on what you want for my life.
Kirk Giles
Kirk Giles is Co-Lead Pastor of Forward Church – a multisite church in the Waterloo Region area of Ontario. He previously served as President of Promise Keepers Canada | Impactus – a global ministry equipping men for a life of purpose and godly impact. Kirk is married to Shannon and together, they have four adult children and two daughters-in-law.