No doubt you’ve glanced once or twice at an astrologer’s predictions in the newspaper. Even if you felt guilty or silly for doing it, you’d hardly fault yourself for wanting every possible advantage in planning your future. Planning for the future, after all, is a major industry. Hundreds of billions of dollars ride on the forecasts of economists, investment counselors, analysts of every sort, and even astrologers! Legions of advisors will sell you opinions on what will happen in the near term and long term; whether or not you take their advice, someone else will. And that person’s actions may in turn affect your prosperity, health and happiness.
For all their focus on the here and now, the proverbs keep a canny eye on the future. Many proverbs, offer wisdom on goal setting and making plans, why to make them, and what we can expect of the best plans we make.
Proverbs 2:11 Wise planning will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe.
Proverbs 4:21 My child, don't lose sight of good planning and insight. Hang on to them,
22 for they fill you with life and bring you honor and respect.
Proverbs 21:5 Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.
As you look ahead to 2015. What plans do you need to be praying about? Thinking about?
Life without purpose is barren indeed,
There can't be a harvest unless you plant a seed.
There can't be attainment unless there is a goal,
And man's but a robot unless there's a soul.
If we send no ships out, no ships will come in,
And unless there's a contest, nobody can win.
For games can't be won unless they are played,
And prayers can't be answered unless they are prayed.
So whatever is wrong with your life today,
You'll find a solution if you kneel down and pray.
Not just for pleasure, enjoyment, and health,
Not just for honors and prestige and wealth.
But pray for a purpose to make life worth living,
And pray for the joy of unselfish giving.
For great is your gladness and rich your reward,
When you make your life's purpose based upon His word.
Author Unknown
For all their focus on the here and now, the proverbs keep a canny eye on the future. Many proverbs, offer wisdom on goal setting and making plans, why to make them, and what we can expect of the best plans we make.
Proverbs 2:11 Wise planning will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe.
Proverbs 4:21 My child, don't lose sight of good planning and insight. Hang on to them,
22 for they fill you with life and bring you honor and respect.
Proverbs 21:5 Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.
As you look ahead to 2015. What plans do you need to be praying about? Thinking about?
Life without purpose is barren indeed,
There can't be a harvest unless you plant a seed.
There can't be attainment unless there is a goal,
And man's but a robot unless there's a soul.
If we send no ships out, no ships will come in,
And unless there's a contest, nobody can win.
For games can't be won unless they are played,
And prayers can't be answered unless they are prayed.
So whatever is wrong with your life today,
You'll find a solution if you kneel down and pray.
Not just for pleasure, enjoyment, and health,
Not just for honors and prestige and wealth.
But pray for a purpose to make life worth living,
And pray for the joy of unselfish giving.
For great is your gladness and rich your reward,
When you make your life's purpose based upon His word.
Author Unknown
While much is outside and beyond our control, we are not to be fatalists. We have a role in creating the future with God through faith in the place of prayer and ... planning! Proverbs may not be promises, but they are inspired wisdom that we ignore at our risk. It's easy for me to get so focused on just surviving the present that I don't reflect and plan for the future...and then later reap the consequences. Thanks for this timely reminder!
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