Presumption

Prov.16:9 “We should make plans—counting on God to direct us” [TLB, with emphasis].

We should make plans but we should also count on God for direction. When you ask God to help you plan, what you are saying in other words is, “let Your blessing be on the plan” and that is a different thing all together. Always start with God in the picture. It is unwise to first paint the picture and then bring it to God. It is like filling the jar and then bringing it to Him. You have to leave it empty so He can fill it; so that He can direct your steps.

Sometime ago, I was under intense pressure both financially and from my siblings to relocate from Nigeria and live abroad. So I decided to process my papers quickly and go before I hear God. And I had done everything successfully; all that was left was to submit. Then one night my wife woke me up in the early hours of the morning. She was sitting at the edge of the chair. For those of you that are not married, when your wife wakes you up sitting at the edge of the chair, just know there is trouble!

She said, “Let’s talk!” I said, “At what time? Okay let’s talk. What is the issue?” She said, “I want you to know that I will follow you anywhere you want to go. This immigration thing, I want you to tell me that God has told you that we are going on this trip”. That which I did not want to confront was now staring me in the face. I could not respond because I cannot lie with God. God can just slap me. If I had gone on that trip, there will be no God’s Favourite House today. I would have just been roaming around trying to pay bills because that is what a lot of people over there are doing. Unless God has sent you then it would be different but if not, do not try it. Planning without prayer is presumption.

The second mistake highlighted in James 4: 14-16 [please read] is presuming about tomorrow when you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. We must not presume because life is unpredictable and this unreliable life is brief. Even if you live to be a hundred and fifty years old, it is still very brief compared to eternity. But God is reliable.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I ask that You guide every step I take by Your Spirit. Where I have gone ahead of You, I ask for Your mercy and Your redirection, in Jesus Name. Amen!