Proverbs 16:3
Is it the end of summer? Mission trips are nearing completion. VBS has been celebrated and clean up has started. Farmers are harvesting their first crops of the year. Varsity fall sports have started. The personal signs are there as well, Naomi is thinking about the school year and tracking the kids start dates. I am looking forward to the crisp fall weather and wandering around the woods without the mosquitoes swarming. The end of summer for Hope is our picnic and baptisms.
I want to praise God for His provision for this summer, a lot of change has happened for my family and for our church family. 8 months of transition has been hard, but it is for God’s glory. His care for my family, for our transition, and new home has been something we have relied upon. Over the next two weeks my kids are coming to visit, and we will share all the stories with each other of what God has and is doing through the summer.
One of the blessings of being the only early riser in my family is the ability to sit in a snore-filled house, read scripture, and pray. It is in these transition times that I desire to plan and look ahead. When things seem unstable I tend to slow down, this has been good advice when walking on uneven ground, climbing hills and getting into lakes. It is even better to slow down when making plans.
Proverbs 16:3 gives us wisdom for our planning, “Commit your works to the LORD
And your plans will be established.” My early mornings of prayer and study allow me to turn the details over to God and look ahead to what will happen next. My anticipation is not for what will happen but rather watching for how God will show up. I am looking for how God will move.
Proverbs 16 gives us even more wisdom. When we live our plans for God’s glory changes will happen around us. Proverbs 16:7 says, “When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” I turn my plans over to the Lord, and He establishes them, making peace with my enemies. What an awesome promise that we can hold onto.
As you step into this transition season with me let us turn towards God in all areas of our lives. Fall sermon planning is on my list, developing a weekly pattern for my life and outreach, and creating a checklist of projects and chores that need to be done while also leaving enough flexibility to allow God to direct my steps. Proverbs 16:9 reminds us, “The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.”
It is my hope that my life would walk in the steps that God directs. That my children would see my reliance upon God and follow in my example. My prayer is that as each of you walks in obedience to God that He would direct your steps to grow the kingdom of God everywhere you go. May He grow His kingdom in your faith, in the faith of others through your witness and in your obedience to the steps He has planned for you.