Purpose, Plans, and Prayer

God’s plan for our lives is often different than what we imagine. However, when we understand our purpose, commit our plans to the Lord, and cover them with prayer, we will be assured of God’s will in our lives.

Know Your Purpose

Paul’s purpose for writing was to introduce himself and express his desire to preach in Rome. Romans 1:13–15 “I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.”

Paul’s purpose in ministry was to present the Gentiles sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Paul’s purpose in life was to preach the Gospel to those who haven’t heard it yet. (IMB has identified just over 3,000 “unreached people groups).

Make Your Plans

Paul’s plans involved fulfilling commitments made to other believers (Galatians 2:9-10).

Paul and his companions had a campaign to raise funds for the hurting believers in Jerusalem and Judea. His plan was to take those gifts to Jerusalem and give a report (Acts 21).

He then planned to visit the Romans and continue the missionary journey to the other end of the Mediterranean in Spain.

Proverbs 16:9 “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

James 4:13–15 “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.””

Paul committed his plans to the guidance of the Lord.

Cover Them in Prayer

How? He covered his plans in prayer. He knew the dangers that would await him.

Paul requested prayer:

That he be delivered from his enemies in Judea.

That his service would be accepted by the Jerusalem saints.

That God would allow him to come to Rome.

All three prayers were answered, just not exactly how Paul expected!