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Proverbs 19:21 - Make Plans According to Gods Will for His Purpose Will Prevail.

Proverbs 19:21 (NIV) Many are the plans of a 
persons heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that 
prevails. 

Proverbs 19:21 (NLT) You can make many 
plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail. 

COMMENTARY PEARL

   The natural inclination in Christian 
living is to act on the impulse of a good idea. Not 
every good idea is from God. Sometimes good ideas 
get in the way of God ideas.  
   Where does your inspiration come from? 
The vision of the transfigured Christ inspired 
Peter: "O Lord, it is good for us to be here. If 
you wish, I will put up three shelters - one for 
you, one for Moses and one for Elijah" (Matthew 
17:4). Our natural impulse is to do something good 
for God and suggest it to Him.  
   The tendency of the well-meaning person 
is to prepare a plan to do some good idea, and 
then pray, "Jesus, this is my plan. It is a good 
plan. It hurts no one, and I want it to please 
You. Lord, please bless my plan." It is plan, 
then pray.  
   So many of our ideas are impetuous. They 
are not what the Lord wants to do. They do not 
resemble in any way the things which concern Him. We 
have good ideas, but they are not God ideas. His 
agenda and our agenda conflict. We want to build 
Him a shelter but that is not what He wants.... 
When Peter, James, and John heard the voice of 
the Lord . . . they abandoned their 
inventive-but-self-made idea. The presence of the Lord magnified, 
and His holiness brought them to their senses. 
Jesus gained their attention, not by subduing them 
with a stem scolding, but by magnifying His 
presence until all the genius of their human ideas 
was bleached out by His refulgent face. 
   When they abandoned their good idea and 
fell facedown before the Lord, He could work with 
them again.... 
   When you and I abandon our good idea and 
fall to our face before me Lord, then He will 
come and touch us, too. When we pursue our own 
plan He cannot use us. We must abandon our good 
idea and fall facedown before Him. Then He will 
be able to use us again. Then He will reveal 
what He is doing - a God idea.... It is pray, 
then plan. Through prayer, Jesus instructs of His 
plan, a God idea. 
   Prayer removes the impulse of the good 
idea, the good idea born of human ingenuity but 
not of God. Pray, then plan. It is the habit of 
the surrendered saint. (From Walking with Christ 
in the Details of Life by Patrick M. Morley) 
[Inspirational SB re Mat. 13:12] 

COMMENTARY

The person who refuses to follow "the Lord's 
counsel" as it is found in Scripture pursues 
foolishness (cf. Deut. 32:28, 29). The Bible is full of 
clear directions from God concerning practical 
Christian living, and Jesus in His life applied those 
principles perfectly to give us an example (1 Pet. 
2:21). God's counsel is immutable (Heb. 6:17), 
faithful (Isa. 25:1), wonderful (Isa. 9:6; 28:29), 
great (Jer. 32:19), sovereign (Dan. 4:35), and 
eternal (Eph. 3:11) Godly counsel is built upon 
the foundational premise that there is an 
infinite and personal God who has revealed Himself 
through His written word, the Bible, and through the 
living Word, Jesus Christ. Godly counsel is not 
man-centered (i.e., doing things one's own way, 
controlling one's behavior by his own feelings or 
thoughts) but rather is God-centered (i.e., going 
God's way regardless of what one wants or thinks). 
[Believers SB] 

A wise person commits his or her plans to 
the Lord (see 16:3). A person whose plans oppose 
the Lord (as in Ps. 2:1"3) may actually become 
Gods enemy. But the person whose ways are from 
God will certainly succeed (see also 16:1, 9). 
[Nelson SB] 

Let no one overtax his God-given powers in 
an effort to advance the Lord's work more 
rapidly. The power of man cannot hasten the work; 
with this must be united the power of heavenly 
intelligences. Only thus can the work of God be brought to 
perfection. Man cannot do God's part of the work. A Paul 
may plant, and an Apollos water, but God gives 
the increase. In simplicity and meekness man is 
to co-operate with divine agencies, at all 
times doing his best, yet ever realizing that God 
is the great Master Workman. Then let our 
zeal in labor be tempered with reason; let us 
cease our efforts to do that which the Lord alone 
can accomplish. [7T298.2] 

Sinful men and fallen angels may devise 
countless schemes to prevent the Lord from carrying 
out His eternal purposes; nevertheless the 
counsels of God will be accomplished and the universe 
eventually cleansed from both sin and sinners. God 
expects His servants to submit their plans to His 
overruling providence. [SDA Bible Commentary] 

ILLUSTRATION

Jake's Story
   Our Wheels for the World team arrived in 
a small town in Poland to distribute 225 
wheelchairs and Bibles. Before the day had hardly begun, 
however, their plans were in shreds. The assigned 
room was tiny and cramped. But before anyone 
could come up with a plan B, streams of families 
with disabled children began pouring through the 
doors. The place quickly became packed and noisy. 
Everything was thrown into confusion. "Lord Jesus," the 
team prayed together, may your purpose prevail 
here." Then they went to work greeting families, 
assessing needs, locating pre-assigned wheelchairs, 
and sharing the Gospel of Jesus at every 
opportunity. 
   The afternoon wore on. A tired father, 
carrying his little five-year-old disabled boy on his 
back, finally reached the head of the line. But 
when he lifted his son into the pre-assigned 
chair, his shoulders slumped. It didn't fit! "I am 
so sorry!" our seating specialist exclaimed, 
"this is the wrong chair." But there were only a 
few chairs left. Pushing aside several adult 
chairs, she reached for a child-sized one. But it 
was highly customized, with side supports - 
including blue leather backing with "Jake" stitched 
across the middle. In the end, there was no other 
choice. It was that chair or nothing. When the 
father lifted his boy into the new chair, it fit 
perfectly! An interpreter exclaimed, "It's like it was 
made for him" 
   "By the way, what is your son's name?" 
someone asked the boy's mother. "Jakob," she replied 
- and everyone gasped! When an interpreter 
explained to the boy's mystified parents that "Jake" 
is the shortened version of Jakob - they, too, 
cried for joy. The whole family - along with 
almost sixty others - opened their hearts to 
receive Jesus that day. The Lord's purpose had 
prevailed! 
   If you are struggling today with a 
plan-gone-haywire in your life, take comfort in Proverbs 
19:21. The Lord's purpose will prevail. 
   Father, help me to see through the 
strands of my shredded plans that if your purposes 
are truly my purposes, your heart's desire will 
prevail. [Joni Eareckson Tada Daily Devotional: 
http://www.joniandfriends.org/daily-devotional] 

CLOSING PEARL

Defeating Distractions
   Dr. Daniel Amen says, "In a world where 
there are so many distractions competing for our 
attention, it is more important than ever to focus on 
God's plan, promises, and priorities for your 
life." We need time each day when the television 
and social media are turned off so that we can 
think deeply about what God has in mind for us. 
   According to media strategist Melissa 
Leiter, the lifespan of a Twitter tweet can be as 
brief as a couple of seconds. A Facebook post 
might remain in a newsfeed for two hours. By 
contrast, God's words have lasted for centuries and 
will keep on lasting. His plans are eternal. He 
has known you from the foundation of the world, 
and his purposes for you are unchanging and 
profoundly good. 
   Take some time today to tune out the 
fleeting messages the world is sending you so that 
you can think about what's eternal. This will 
put into perspective the short-term plans that 
crowd your heart, and then you'll be able to hear 
and agree with the Lord's purposes for you. 
   Screening out the distractions that 
clamor for your attention will give you a clear 
mind to focus on what really matters. [The Daniel 
Plan 365-Day Devotional] 

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

   Listen to Me continually. I have much to 
communicate to you, so many people and situations in 
need of prayer. I am training you to set your 
mind on Me more and more, tuning out distractions 
through the help of My Spirit.  
   Walk with Me in holy trust, responding to 
My initiatives rather than trying to make 
things fit your plans. I died to set you free, and 
that includes freedom from compulsive planning. 
When your mind spins with a multitude of 
thoughts, you cannot hear My voice. A mind preoccupied 
with planning pays homage to the idol of control. 
Turn from this idolatry back to Me. Listen to Me 
and live abundantly! (John 8:36; Pro. 19:21; 
John 10:27) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young] 

   Trust Me enough to spend ample time with 
Me, pushing back the demands of the day. Refuse 
to feel guilty about something that is so 
pleasing to Me, the King of the universe. Because I 
am omnipotent, I am able to bend time and 
events in your favor. You will find that you can 
accomplish more in less time, after you have given 
yourself to Me in rich communion. Also, as you align 
yourself with My perspective, you can sort out what 
is important and what is not.  
   Don't fall into the trap of being 
constantly on the go. Many, many things people do in My 
Name have no value in My kingdom. To avoid doing 
meaningless works, stay in continual communication with 
Me. I will instruct you and teach you in the way 
you should go; I will counsel you with My eye 
upon you. (Luke 10:41, 42; Psalm 32:8) [Jesus 
Calling by Sarah Young] 

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY 

Proverbs 19:21 - Finding The Plan For 
Success. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2008/20080724-1207.html 

Proverbs 16:9 - Divine Detours.

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210923-0844.html 

Isaiah 14:24 - God is Sovereign.

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2010/20100915-1237.html 

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs  

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo 

Steps to Peace by Billy Graham: 
https://stepstopeace.org/ 

Seeking God Made Real: 
http://vimeo.com/31489782 

Prayer Made Real: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES 

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: 
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/ 

Amazing Facts Bible Studies: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx  

Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study 
Guides: 
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover 

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: 
http://www.bibleresearch.info/ 

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of 
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible 

Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug 
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/  

Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW: 
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657