January 2022
Steve Russo
No matter what the pollsters claim, no one can accurately predict all that’s going to happen in the next 12 months. The best forecasts are really just educated guesses.
Changes in our society and world have not only increased in speed and intensity, but also in their unpredictability. Consider how the pandemic has totally changed the way we live. How can anyone succeed in life when the future seems to be so uncertain?
Begin by involving God in all your plans. It’s craziness to make plans without consulting Him first. He’s the only one who really does know the future. So, we should trust him. But sometimes it’s easier to say it than to do it. Letting go and relying on God can be tough.
Proverbs 16:1 reminds us, “We make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer” (NLT). This verse doesn’t mean that we should not make plans – just because God has the final outcome in his hands. Instead, we should look at it as a unique partnership between our efforts and God’s sovereign design. We need to use our minds, our creativity and seek out good advice from others as we plan. But ultimately, the results are going to be up to Him. In the planning process we should ask for God’s guidance and then take action on our plan as we listen to and depend on Him.
While you can plan for tomorrow, you can’t live it until it actually arrives. Lots of people spend so much time worrying about the future they’ve got no time to enjoy the moment! Planning for tomorrow is wise use of your time – but worrying about it is not. When planning is done well – including seeking God’s advice – it can help eliminate worry. But if you’re consumed with anxiety, it’s difficult to trust God.
Jesus said, “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Matthew 6:34 NLT). God will take care of your today and your tomorrow if you trust him. Look toward the future by living a day at a time.
