January 9: When God Rewrites Your Plans

Theme: When God Rewrites Your Plans

Jeremiah 29:11- “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Across the world, many individuals and families have sat down to discuss their plans for the new year. Some may have outlined goals for career growth, travel, saving, investing, home purchases, and a plethora of other things. However, among the many, few pause to ask, “How do these plans fit into the plans of God?” or “Does He have other plans in place?”

As I reflect on my life, God has rewritten my plans in more ways than one, and I am grateful that He did.

I can vividly remember an experience I had at age 12. My uncle, who was an educator at my primary school, instructed the school’s principal to remove me from the school bus that was taking the football team to a semi-final game. As Jamaicans would say, “If you cut me, you wouldn’t find blood”—I was so upset with my uncle for what he did that I hardly spoke to him.

At the time, many referred to me as a “young football prodigy,” and I was a key player for my school. Why was I removed? My grades had slipped from being a top “A” student to a “B” student. At the time, it didn’t seem like a big deal—at least not to me. Later on, I had to make similar decisions in high school and university, as coaches continued to see me play and asked me to join their teams.

Approximately thirteen years later, having completed university as valedictorian, the Lord reminded me of that experience at age 12. Unknown to me then, the Lord already had His plans for my life, and He used my uncle to plant that pivotal moment. After my graduation ceremony, I called my uncle—who had become my favorite uncle over the years—and thanked him deeply for his wisdom and for allowing God to use him in ways he didn’t even fully understand himself.

As Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

I have shared just one experience today, but I could have shared a thousand more like it. We are called to trust the leading of God. Though we may plan our future to the best of our ability, I implore you to leave some blank pages for God to rewrite our plans so they align with His master plan.

Prayer

Lord, order our steps to align with Yours. Align our plans, hearts, minds, and desires with Yours. Help us to have faith in Your inspired words found in Jeremiah 29:11, for in You all things are possible. Give us hearts of obedience and understanding, to listen and to follow as You lead us.

Amen.

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