Thought for the Day – Tuesday 26th May
Many are the plans in a person’s
heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 19: 21)
To humans belong the plans of the
heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue. (Proverbs
16: 1)
In their hearts humans plan their
course, but the Lord establishes their steps. (Proverbs 16:9)
On Saturday 16th May I was watching the installation of the
new Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Rev Dr Martin Fair, on the Church of
Scotland Website. It was a really strange experience to see the whole ritual
being undertaken in an empty Assembly Hall with no Commissioners present and
only the outgoing Moderator and his wife, Martin and his wife, the Principal
Clerk of the Church and representative of the Church Law Department being there
in person along with a camera man. Even Martin’s two appointed Chaplains Gregor
and Catherine were on screen and not present in the Assembly Hall. Strange
times!
I know because my friend Catherine is one of Martin’s chaplains this
year that a lot of planning has been going on for the last six months or so to
organise the Moderator’s diary for his Moderatorial Year, as it does every year
with each new Moderator as they decide what their focus for their year will be,
where they will visit at home and abroad and which chaplain will accompany them
on those visits and what events and services they wish and require to attend.
So many human plans made for the year ahead and a very full diary
organised.
Once installed as the new Moderator Martin spoke of those plans and how
they were now all up in the air and indeed some may never come to fruition but
he said he was not despondent because he knew everything was in God’s hand and
God’s time and made reference to these verses from Proverbs where we are told
that no matter the plans we make in our own hearts and minds as humans it is
God who is in control our lives and so we should not fear if our plans go awry.
We may make our plans but it is God who is in control of our lives, he gives us
the ability to speak of those plans and to accomplish them. It is God who determines
the steps we take through life not us, God who is working his purpose out
through us – we live to God’s plan and purpose.
I am sure in this time of ‘Lockdown’ lots of our plans will have gone
awry – many will have had to be abandoned and many will never ever now come to
fruition. However, that should not stop us making our human plans in our hearts
for the future – we should still have our hopes and dreams knowing God is in
control and being reassured by the words of God in Jeremiah 29: 11 where it
says:
‘For I know the plans I have for
you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to
give you hope and a future.’
So go on make some plans trusting in God and letting him determine the
steps you take – he will not harm you, but rather give you hope and a future.
Prayer
Loving God,
Across the years you have guided your people
assuring them of your presence and your promise of an eternal home with you.
Strengthen us to trust in your promise amid all our fears, grant us wisdom to
discern your way and give us confidence to plan for the future knowing you are
in control of our lives at all times, walking with us, determining those steps
we take. In Jesus’ name we pray. Am
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