In what ways can we ensure our plans align with God's will today? Setting the Scene • 2 Samuel 17:4 records, “This proposal pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel”. • Absalom and his advisors were impressed by Ahithophel’s military plan, yet God had already determined to overturn it (17:14). • The episode reminds us that what looks wise to everyone in the room can still be completely outside God’s will. The Danger of Plans That Simply “Feel Right” • Popular approval does not equal divine approval. • Even seasoned leaders—“all the elders of Israel”—were misled because they failed to seek the Lord’s counsel. • Proverbs 16:25 warns, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death”. Safeguards for Aligning Our Plans with God’s Will 1. Saturate the Plan in Scripture – Compare every intention with clear biblical teaching. – Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”. – If the plan violates or skirts any command, adjust or abandon it. 2. Pray before, during, and after Planning – Philippians 4:6 instructs us to present “every request to God.” – Prayer invites God’s veto power and keeps our hearts soft to His redirection. 3. Seek God-Centered Counsel – Proverbs 15:22: “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed”. – Choose Spirit-filled advisers who will measure ideas by the Word, not by personal gain. 4. Examine Motives Honestly – James 4:3 exposes selfish ambition that hinders answered prayer. – Ask: Is this plan aimed at God’s glory or my advancement? 5. Look for the Fruit of the Spirit, Not Fleshly Impulses – Galatians 5:22-23 lists love, peace, patience, self-control. – A plan driven by haste, envy, or pride mirrors Absalom’s rebellion, not God’s heart. 6. Commit the Plan and Accept God’s Edits – Proverbs 16:3: “Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved”. – Committing means handing ownership to God, allowing Him to modify timelines and outcomes. 7. Walk in Ongoing Surrender – Romans 12:1-2 calls us to present ourselves as “a living sacrifice” and be “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” – Continual surrender keeps us pliable, ready to pivot when God intervenes, just as David adjusted when warned by Hushai. Practical Checklist Before Moving Forward • Have I located clear scriptural support or prohibition? • Have I prayed enough to sense peace rather than pressure (Colossians 3:15)? • Have trusted believers affirmed or challenged the plan? • Do my motives survive the light of 1 Corinthians 10:31—“whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God”? • Am I willing to let the plan die if God shuts the door (Revelation 3:7)? Encouraging Outcome When we meet these safeguards, we experience Proverbs 3:5-6 in action: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight”. Unlike Absalom, we’ll find our steps directed, our plans refined, and our hearts protected as God’s sovereign will unfolds. |
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