Influencers Weekly Devotional

Redirection by

Rocky Fleming

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)

There’s not a person reading this who wouldn’t agree that they could get so many more things done to their liking if they didn’t have interruptions. It is the same at work, at home, playing golf or fishing, and even with spiritual matters. If we could just do “our thing,” and not be distracted by people or unforeseen, random interruptions, we could achieve our objectives and be so much happier, wouldn’t we? But in some way, or somehow, the interruptions pursue us like a hound after a coon. Why does this happen so much to us guys? Is there anything good that can come from these interruptions? For instance, I went fly fishing Memorial Day. I needed a day of recreation, and had looked forward to it. After unloading my kayak and getting my rod rigged out, I paddled to a place that should be full of fish. Before I could make a few casts, the wind picked up pushing my kayak out of the fishing spot. After I worked back to the spot and repositioned the boat, the wind changed direction and my kayak turned around and headed the other way. My delicate fly was whisked from one landing spot to another because of the circular motion of the un-forecasted wind. After a while of this I had enough, and gave up trying to fight with it. I paddled back to the edge of the water and loaded my kayak in the truck while thinking, “Another great idea spoiled by an interruption. Give me a break!” Then there was the time I went to play golf, and the ball on the first drive off of hole one was followed by the head of my golf club when it broke off the shaft. My game was in the pits after that start on my round. Game changer! How about my long planned and anticipated ski retreat that was spoiled by a virus that ran through our group like the plague, and had us fighting each other to get to the bathroom? Our plans to ski and fellowship on the mountain that weekend literally went down the toilet along with some other things, including the bible study and fellowship we had hoped for. The best thing that happened that weekend was when we gave up our plans to ski, and drove home to see a doctor. Oh, I can’t tell you how many times that I’ve had my plans changed, and exclaimed my famous words, “Give me a break!” These interruptions come from nowhere, and it drives a guy to say things he will regret, as he lashes out with frustration and angry words to the messenger who is unfortunate enough to be giving him the bad news. So, what can we do about it? Well, it has a lot to do with what our perspective is, and if we are willing to get a heavenly view of things. How so? To begin with, we need to understand that in this world mankind operates under Murphy’s Law, which says that if it can go wrong, it will go wrong. Murphy would explain our disruptions through his perspective, and if you believe that Murphy is the way and truth, then there is no good news for you and your interruptions. However, if you aren’t willing to give in to this way of thinking, I have good news for you. It starts with understanding God’s Operating Procedures. God operates under a Heavenly Law instead of Murphy’s Law, which says that with Him all things are possible. He is a law unto Himself, and when it comes to this aspect of His Being, there is nothing His will cannot trump. So this is the first thing we need to nail down, which is to accept the truth that God is sovereign over all things, including all things in our life. This means His will is sovereign over all things in our life, including those disruptions which we detest. The question is, will we willingly and joyfully go along with His plans over ours? If we will, then a disruption in our life can become a redirection for our life, and we can find joy rather than disappointment. Are you interested? Then read on. In the passage above, we see an interesting use of words. I looked at several translations and saw only one that used mind instead of heart. Most translations agree with the ESV use of “the heart” for making plans, rather than “the mind”. Although it might seem to be an insignificant difference, I believe it could be a big one, if we seek to make plans that fall in step with God’s sovereign plans for our life. Why? I think the mind of man is limited to his intelligence, his education, his experience, and risk management when making his plans. Where is God in this method of planning? Doesn’t an atheist plan in the same way? Couldn’t anyone, with his survival instincts leading him, formulate a plan for his day, no matter how routine or basic it might be? Murphy would say that no matter how hard you intellectually try to keep disruptions away from your plans, his law would eventually get you. But, have you ever thought to consult God with your plans before you make them, so that God’s rules override Murphy’s? Have you sought God’s direction and inspiration in your planning? If you did, and you found His direction, it was because you connected your heart with His, and you planned with your heart, not just your head. Now understand, heart planning with God doesn’t exclude our intellectual planning. Rather it drives it. It enables it. It empowers it. Our plans with God also give to us steps that will lead us with how to secure those plans made with Him. Those steps will include strategic interruptions that will redirect us, or even be part of His original plan. But, the interruptions are not random or haphazard. They are like I said, strategic, and play a critical role for God’s plan to be accomplished. Now you might think I’m trying to sell you on a magical formula that removes all disappointments and interruptions from your life, by telling you to plan with God rather than planning without His counsel? You would be wrong. I am not giving you a way to stop the interruptions. They will happen, and that part of Murphy’s Law is right. What I am saying though, is that by planning with God, we are also promised His involvement with the steps for carrying out those plans He inspires. We can never know the details of how God’s plans come together, nor how they connect other people and other needs. Sometimes we play only a limited role and others a major role in God’s plans. Sometimes we are the star and they the supporting cast. But, what does it matter? Does it really matter that we must get what we seek to give us our purpose and joy, or that God gives it to us another way? Isn’t it the purpose and joy we are seeking, and our plan was only the way we thought needed to be used to gain it? Can there be no other way to secure our hope than that which we can conceive, comprehend or gain by our intellectual planning? Absolutely yes! There is another way. But what about the disappointments? I know a godly couple who did their planning with their hearts and God, and have still been disappointed by how the plans aren’t working out. Was God not in their planning? Are they somehow to blame that the plan is not fulfilled? The Apostle Paul would answer this question by saying, “I planted and Apollos watered.” What was he really saying? He was saying He played his part. He followed the Spirit, and God redirected Paul’s life to another place of service, even away from the place he had planned to go. With my friends I would say that you were faithful to plant, now trust God to send someone else to water. Can you really know how important your role is, and as well another person’s role in the same plan, except in trusting that God is sovereign over the plans He inspired with you? This is the time to seize the joy that comes from a rooted belief that God rules your life, not Satan, not evil, not circumstances, not even Murphy. Place your plans before God, as Abraham placed his Isaac on the altar and allowed God to give Isaac back to him in His own way, and with His own provision. Give this to God and watch where He takes it. You have done your part, and He will do His. To you men who might be going through some major disappointment, or who are exasperated and frustrated because of the disruptions to your plans, I say, “Get your heart in it men!” It is time to turn this thing around. Start doing your planning with your heart and God, instead of just with your mind. Sure, like my friends, there will be some of those plans that will take a different direction from what you had planned. But, you can rest assured that even with those disruptions, God has His plan, and He will establish your next steps for His plan. After all, isn’t that really the best plan when it comes down to it? Download file