Tomorrow Belongs to the Lord - Your Nightly Prayer - September 23rd

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Tomorrow Belongs to the Lord
Your Nightly Prayer
by Clarence Haynes Jr.

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE

"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." - Proverbs 16:9

SOMETHING TO PONDER

In my mind, I had it all planned out. I considered where we were, created a strategy and mapped out the pathway to land at the place we wanted to arrive financially. I began working diligently on these goals and even had a date where I would achieve them. Thinking it all through and seeing where we would be, I was excited to attack these goals. This plan was going to work.

That was fine until something happened that blindsided me. My VP informed me on a call that they were eliminating my job, which was essential to this financial puzzle. The plans and goals I had were now hit with a detour that I did not see coming.

While this was shocking to me, because I had my plans all mapped out, it was not shocking to the Lord. Before I ever got to this day, God knew it was going to happen and had already factored it into his plan. You should find comfort in knowing God is never surprised by the things that surprise us. Those things are the way he moves us along in our journey.

That’s why Proverbs 16:9 hits differently when life throws you a curveball. It reminds us of two simple but powerful truths:

-We make plans (and we should)
-God determines how we arrive at those plans

It’s kind of like GPS. You might punch in the destination, but sometimes the GPS reroutes you, especially when there’s traffic ahead. It may not make sense to you at the moment, but the reroute is still leading you to where you are meant to go. That’s how God operates.

Here’s the lesson I’m walking through in real time as I write this. It's good to dream, plan, and prepare, but hold those plans with open hands. Even if your plans are good, and even if your goals are godly, the route God takes you on might be the scenic route…with a few potholes and detours thrown in. However, when you consider Scripture, this is the way God works.

-Joseph had dreams of leadership, but God’s path included betrayal, slavery, and prison before the palace.
-The awkward space of the king's harem was the road that Esther had to pass through on her way to royalty.
-Jesus had the ultimate purpose, our redemption, but even he had to walk through the agony of the cross to fulfill it.

There may have been detours, discomfort, or delays in these journeys, yet each one ended exactly where God intended.

So, what does that mean for you and me? Sometimes God’s plan reroutes us in ways that make absolutely no sense to us but perfect sense to Him. Even though it may feel like your plans are falling apart, God’s plans are still holding strong. That, my friends, is where you must place your trust, not in your plans, but in his purpose.

Here’s what I believe today. The goals I had are still on the table, and the dream isn’t dead. It’s just taking a different path than I originally mapped out. While this path may be a little bumpier than I expected, I know since God is mapping it out it will be better. Regardless of how it feels right now.

So tonight, if you’re holding a plan that’s gone sideways, or staring down a future that feels foggy, remember this truth. You don’t have to know how it’s going to work out. You must trust the one who already does. Tomorrow belongs to him, and that’s the best news you’ll hear all day.

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Lord,
As I think about the plans for my life, I admit something that didn’t go as expected surprised me. While my initial response might be anxiety, worry, or fear, replace that with trust in your plan. Thank you for guiding my steps, even when the path is unknown. Solidify in my heart that you see the full picture and give me peace in the places where I feel uncertain. Let me rest in you, knowing that tomorrow belongs to you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

1. Life comes with surprises, but life does not surprise God.

2. Detours do not mean the dream is dead. It means the path to get there is different.    

3. Shifting scenarios do not shift God’s purpose for your life.

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Viacheslav Peretiatko

Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club.  He is the author of The Pursuit of Purpose which will help you understand how God leads you into his will. His most recent book is The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. This book will teach you how to put the pieces together so you can live a victorious Christian life and finally become the man or woman of God that you truly desire to be. Clarence is also committed to helping 10,000 people learn how to study the Bible and has just released his first Bible study course called Bible Study Basics. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com.  

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