Our Plans and God’s Plans

God’s ways, not mine…God’s will, not mine. I use to be a long term planner. I had nearly every situation in life planned out and knew where ‘I’ was headed. I believed I had a great life complete in every way possible, that was until I met my Savior face to face.

Instead of completing a 30 year career in the military (my plan), the Lord had me retire at 28 and half years and spent 18 months on the road preaching the Gospel to any and all who would listen.

Instead of a 2nd career in civil service making the ‘big bucks’ (my plan), He set me on a path to learn about computers, the internet, websites and event streaming so that we could build a premier company that will secure the future of my family.

Instead of racing my personal car during the weekends at local tracks (my plan) He set me down in the middle of the most exciting drag racing on the planet today, the wild world of fast door car racing which is arguably the fastest growing and most popular segment in the sport.

I thought my life was full of excitement and fun as I traveled the world for the US Air Force, while I got to do some very cool things, there is no comparison to what I am currently doing, the places I get to go or the people I get to hangout with.

As I look back at my life the last 13+ years, I am amazed at the ride…I never saw any of this. The best part…He’s not done yet.

It all started with a ‘yes’ on March 3rd, 2001. A yes to His ways, not mine, a yes to His plans not mine. 1 Cor 2:9 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him–

Blessings

Our Plans and God’s Plans
by Os Hillman

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”Proverbs 19:21

Have you ever heard of someone who spent years of preparation for one vocation only to end up doing something completely different? Perhaps this could be said of you. Quite often we have in our minds what we believe we want to do only to have a course correction. Often the course correction comes through a major crisis that forces us into an area that we would never have considered.

Such was the case for Samuel Morse. Born in 1791, Morse grew up desiring to be an artist, and he eventually became very talented and internationally known. However, it was difficult to make a living as an artist in America during that time. A series of crises further complicated his vocational desire when his wife died; then his mother and father also died soon after. He went to Europe to paint and reflect on his life. On his return trip aboard a ship, he was captivated by discussions at dinner about new experiments in electromagnetism. During that important occasion, Morse made the following comment, “If the presence of electricity can be made visible in any part of the circuit, I see no reason why intelligence may not be transmitted by electricity.” In the face of many difficulties and disappointments, he determinedly perfected a new invention, and, in 1837, applied for a patent that became what we know today as the telegraph. He also created Morse code. It was only later, after many more setbacks and disappointments, that his projects received funding.

Samuel Morse later commented, “The only gleam of hope, and I cannot underrate it, is from confidence in God. When I look upward it calms any apprehension for the future, and I seem to hear a voice saying: ‘If I clothe the lilies of the field, shall I not also clothe you?’ Here is my strong confidence, and I will wait patiently for the direction of Providence.” Morse went on to create several other inventions and can be recognized today as the father of faxes, modems, e-mail, the internet and other electronic communication. [“Glimpses,” Issue #99 (Worcester, Pennsylvania: Christian History Institute, 1998).]

God’s plans may not always seem to follow our natural inclination. Perhaps God has you taking a path that may not lead to His ultimate destination for you. Trust in the Lord, lean not on your own understanding, acknowledge Him in all you do, and He shall direct your path (see Prov. 3:5-6).