Psalm 33:10-11
The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm for ever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
Whose plans dominate your life? Yours? Or God's? That’s an
awkward question, isn't it? We know what the 'right' answer is! We should be people who live to serve God's purposes. In our best moments, we WANT to be like that. To be able to pray 'Your will be done' and really mean it. But often, for me at least, it's MY plans that dominate my mind. We can tell when we're thinking this way by the things we ask for when we pray. 'Lord, please
bless what I'm about to do, please take away the obstacles to my success, please remove this irritating situation which is getting in the way of what I want' without ever asking 'Lord, what is it that YOU want to accomplish in and through me today?'
So v.10 is uncomfortable ... What if I don't want a God who
is going to foil my plans and thwart my purposes?! That's why we're reading verses 10 and 11 together. v.11 reminds us that only God's purposes are secure. Even if we get our own way, and our plans work out, they won't last. We are limited, finite creatures, and nothing we do really endures. I think that's why we're so fascinated by really old things, that have endured through generations - because it's so incredibly rare for human achievements to last that long. Only God can do anything that will last throughout every generation to come. Only his plans will outlast the end of this world and live on into eternity. Even the oldest human monuments and achievements will be swept away when this earth is destroyed. But God's plans stand firm for ever.
Looked at from that perspective, my obsession with my plans
is ridiculous. Who am I to expect that God exists to serve my purposes? To make my agenda run more smoothly? How completely inappropriate to imagine that his divine power and wisdom would be best used in accomplishing my fleeting and
often foolish goals! It is a wonderful truth that God DOES care about the detailed circumstances of our lives. We can bring to him all our needs and concerns. But that doesn't mean that it's his job to serve our plans. Rather, it's an amazing privilege that - somehow - all the details of our lives are woven into HIS plans. We get to do and say things each day that form part of his lasting purposes. When we glorify and worship God, when we obey him, when we share the gospel with someone, when we co-operate with the Spirit to put sin to death in our lives and become more like Jesus, we are taking part in something that really does last forever.
Let's praise God that his plans and purposes endure. And
let's ask for his help to commit ourselves to his plans rather than our own. 'Your will be done, in my life, and throughout the earth, as it is in heaven.' Amen!
