The Bible clear,  God has a plan for your life! Jeremiah 29:11 imparts to us an invaluable truth; God has ordained a plan for your life. For your life to make an eternal difference we must plan, be determined and commit our ways to God. Success is within your grasp.

Success does not affect your position in eternity, but it does reveal how well you used your time and talents on earth. As a Christian, success is measured by how well you fulfilled the will of God for your life.

“The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.” Proverbs 16:1

You have a responsibility to plan for your future. Underneath the talents and abilities God has given you, lies His plan for your life. God has made every person slightly different and unique from another. That distinctiveness makes you irreplaceable.

With that said, God will not be held hostage by your lack of participation. He is not in heaven suffering from anxiety on whether you will fulfill your purpose in life. If necessary, God will raise up another to fill the vacancy left by your refusal.

When you think that you have missed your opportunity, your ship has sailed, or you’ve run out of chances, remember God has the final answer. “For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable,” Romans 11:29. One of the gifts God has given you is meaning and purpose in life.

“²All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. ³Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” Proverbs 16:2-3

Someone once shared with me an invaluable piece of wisdom; NEVER make decisions alone. The times I have made decisions on my own, I added more difficulty to life than was necessary. Others have a way of being more objective and can give us fresh insight.

“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers, they succeed.”           Proverbs 15:22

There is the temptation with every accomplishment to isolate ourselves from others because we feel wiser than everyone and don’t need their input.  “None of us are as smart as all of us,” John Maxwell. If you will seek the counsel of many and commit your ways to the LORD, your plans will succeed.

So how do we commit our plans to the LORD?

#1 Soak your plans in prayer.

If we can’t pray about it, we probably shouldn’t do it.

#2 Put God’s will and word above your desires.

When our plans honor God, God causes our plans to succeed.

I’ve seen God do the impossible and miraculous because I soaked it in prayer, put God’s will above my own and sought His glory, not mine.

^“4The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.” Proverbs 16:4

You will come across people who are not living for God, who appear to have it much easier than you and are prospering. Maybe they cheat and lie yet thrive while you’re honest and do what is right, and by comparison, they are more successful than you. God will deal justly with everyone.

“⁷When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. ⁸Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. ⁹The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Proverbs 16:7-9

Peace does not come from the absence of enemies. God can cause you to be at peace even when surrounded by enemies. Your enemy can be those who are against you, but your enemy is also fear, worry, and doubt.

Don’t make wealth the purpose of your life. When money is your end-game, you will do things you never thought you’d do; sacrifice things you never dreamed of sacrificing; become someone you never thought you would be. If you work hard, rewards will come. It is better to be righteous and have a little than to gain the world and forfeit your soul.

In verse nine we are told that we may plan our way, but “the LORD establishes his steps.” When God establishes our plans, there are no obstacles that can keep your plans from succeeding. As you plan for the future pursue the dream and purpose God has put in your heart but remember, God is in the driver’s seat.

At different stages of my life, I have looked back at the steps I took to where I arrived, and it was often not the route I would have chosen. God uses our steps to prepare us for the destination.

Enjoy the ride. Accept the good with the bad. Learn from every experience. And above all else, put God first!