Let GOD Mark Your Calendar

Accept GOD’s response

Trust GOD’s examination

Commit all business to GOD

Accept GOD’s response

Aspire to accomplish something

As we have come to a new year, it is wise to plan and set goals for ourselves. The term plan includes the idea of reflection. Thus when we look back and consider what we haven’t done, who we haven’t been, we should want to be better at something. We should aspire to accomplish tasks and projects. At home, work, community, the kingdom, school, etc. Solomon says even an ant, one of the smallest creatures makes plans and preparations for the year (Prov 6:6-8). GOD has given humanity the freedom to take careful thought and arrange ideas for our future of 2021, and we should indeed take advantage of doing so.

Realize that our plans are merely proposals

While Solomon affirms that it belongs to the heart of humanity to plan to do and be all we can be in 2021, yet the second clause teaches us that every idea or goal that we have for this year, are only propositions for our future. That means we can only suggest for our future. How do we know that? Because Solomon says that source of the answer is the Lord. That means as we plan and ideate for ourselves, GOD decides whether or not what we’ve suggested is going to happen.

Example: Luke says in Acts 16:6-7 that Paul in his strategic missionary journey throughout Asia, that he and his companions were trying to go to Bithynia, but Holy Spirit did not permit them.

When the Lord replies “denied” on our calendars, we must be willing to accept that response from the Lord.

Accept GOD’s examination

Now many people argue and have a fit with GOD because he canceled a meeting or a project or an opportunity we were so looking forward to. We have a hard time understanding why, when everything seemed just right. But that’s just it, to us, the path looked just fine. That’s because all we carve out appears to be flawless, guiltless, and there’s no harm whatsoever. The path I was taking to get to my goals looked innocent. But we must realize that the Lord weighs our motives. Motive being the inward force that causes us to move a certain way or down a certain path. It’s not that every motive or path is wrong necessarily. What Solomon is pointing out is that all the paths we want to take seem right, and our hearts are not always armed to detect the drive in our hearts that’s moving us down that path.

Ex. Some might have a goal for better financial security. That’s not a bad thing. But ones true motive might be to be more covetous or self-centered.

In whatever we are planning, we must remember that GOD knows the drive in our hearts. And has the power to put truth and righteousness on one side, and test whether there’s an equilibrium with our motives. See many are saying goodbye to 2020, looking forward to returning to how things were. GOD knows whether self-pleasure is a motive, or if people are driven to sincerely care for others. He knows if self or others or at the center of our plans. That’s why David in Psalm 139 says, search me, and see if there’s anything harmful in my heart, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Commit all business to GOD

So with all the reflection of last year, aspiring to plan and set goals for another uncertain year, and knowing that sees and weighs center weight of our intentions, what action should we take with respect to all we set out to do? Commit all our business to the Lord. The word commit has the idea of rolling something onto GOD. And works includes actions, projects, endeavors, projects, etc. The weight or burden of all we have on our plates, can become massive. And we toss and turn, not knowing if, when, how, we will do this and that. So we expend ourselves trying to figure it all out for ourselves. But Solomon says, if you want success this year, learn to roll all work God’s way. What does that entail?

Trust and consult GOD with everything

If we are to trust GOD with whatever business and activity, we must pray to him according to his will. Listen to Paul in Ro 15:30-32, as he speaks about his missionary travel plans. He says strive with me in your prayers, by the Lord Jesus, and the love of the Holy Spirit, that I may come to you by the will of GOD. GOD says in Is 30:1-2, woe to my children who execute a plan, but not mine, who go down to Egypt and don’t consult me. When Rehoboam gathered troops to go against Jeroboam, GOD said don’t go up, for what’s happening is by my will. And they listened and didn’t go up according to the word of GOD!! See, when we commit our works to the Lord, it is a matter of trusting and consulting GOD in all our business, and he will establish or make all our plans succeed. That does not mean that everything we propose will succeed. Rather our plans will be in accordance with God’s, and they will succeed because they are always in alignment.

Will you trust GOD to mark your calendars? Trusting that all that GOD decides for your year is what’s best. GOD will interrupt some things that you have proposed. He will cancel some events we have proposed. He will add some things we were not expecting. Will you accept his decision. Realizing that He knows what’s best, because we don’t always detect if our motives are right. Will you commit all your business to him for this year, and watch doesn’t he establish a righteous plan for us. Because all things, work together for the good, for them that love GOD, and are called according to his purpose. Amen!!!