The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
– Proverbs 16:9
What a great word. It’s right, in a sense to plan our way. We see this all throughout the Book of Proverbs that it’s wise to think about your ways. Just two verses before this talks about a man’s way being pleasing to the Lord. So we want to plan to live in a way that is pleasing to God.
We want our plans to align with God’s plan.
Proverbs 16:9 Calls Us to Live in Humility
And to make plans in our lives accordingly. At the same time we do that with a proper humility that realizes it’s the Lord who establishes our steps. It’s the Lord who leads and guides and directs ultimately the details of our lives.
So there’s a picture here of humble planning, of working diligently, planning to honor the Lord in this and that area of our area of our life. At the same time acknowledging that God may redirect our plans at any moment.
Proverbs 16:9 Tells Us God Redirects Our Steps
He may redirect our steps. He may do things that we don’t always understand but He is the one who establishes our steps. So then that leads us then to just say “Oh, God, we want our plans to align with your plan. ‘Cause we know your plans for our lives are good. What you have designed for us is good and right and pleasing to you and good for us. We know, we trust that you work all things together for the good of those who love you and had been caught according to your purpose.”
So we say together we trust your plans. We pray establish our steps according to your plans. Help us even when we make plans to align with your plan. And when necessary to adjust to your plan.
This Verse Leads Us to Trust the Lord
I think about the infinite seemingly number of scenarios in each of our lives as we’re praying this. When we think about the plans we have for our lives and the ways you might redirect those plans. It is good to know that you hold our times in your hands. That your plans for us are to prosper us, not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future. Like we see in Jeremiah 29:11.
And so we thank you for establishing our steps in a way that we know, we trust, we believe will be good for us and we pray, “Oh God, we’ll be glorifying for you.” So we trust you with our life today. We plan our ways in our hearts and at the same time we trust you to establish our steps. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.