The Prevailing Purpose

What does your future hold? What is ahead for you? People wonder about these types of questions all the time. They look for clues, they engage the services of futurists and specialists hoping to gain some insight into what is ahead. People want to know so they can feel secure. They figure that if they know what is going to take place they can then plan and avoid the surprise of the unknown.

I am not against planning. And I am not against having knowledge of what is ahead. In fact I rather appreciate it. But I have had to change my approach just a bit. You see, it is not our place to predict and plan everything that is to come. Scripture tells us that we make our plans, but it is the Lord’s purpose that will prevail. And that is what I have had to learn to embrace. There are certain aspects of the future that we do know and that we are guaranteed. Certain aspects such as the knowledge of knowing that God promises to meet our needs and take care of us. That our future is held in his hands and while there may be times that it would appear as though things are uncertain and shaky, we are still secure in his care.

It is a change in thinking…it is a shift in where we invest…it requires consideration on our part of the role God plays in our life. When I read the statement “it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails,” I feel power and control, direction and certainty. It is as though God is saying, “This is what is going to happen, you can either choose to play my game in my yard or you can play your own game in your own yard.” “If you choose to play in my yard you may get tackled but I will make sure everybody plays by the rules. If you choose to play outside of my yard I won’t guarantee what rules they play by.”

I won’t guarantee the theological soundness of my little comparison here…but there is definitely some truth to it and I like the picture it painted in my mind to help me understand this verse. God’s purpose will always prevail. He will get done what he wants to get done. It is our choice whether we will be a part of it or if we just want to go on and do our own thing. When we choose to align with that purpose by making the right decisions and choosing to live according to his plans and purpose for us we have the ability to also enjoy the abundance he has promised us.

It is the Lord’s purpose that will prevail!!

Proverbs 19:20-21 – “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.”

Have a blessed day,

RodZ

© 2008 – Rodney Zimmerman – All rights reserved