Making Plans
Heavyweight champion swings some wisdom your way
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There are many plans in a person’s mind, but it is the counsel of the Lord that will stand.
Proverbs 19:21 (NET)
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Anytime I think about quotes around plans, I always remember that famous Mike Tyson quote:
“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.”
Of course I don’t think it’s God doing the punching in the face when our plans go awry. I guess it could be, Job certainly got pummeled, but there were bigger things going on.
I digress.
The book of wisdom is giving us some wise ideas about how to handle our plans…
Loosely.
There is one glaring mistake that I’m prone to make when crafting my plans:
Hoping God blesses my plans rather than aligning myself with His plans.
I think I was first exposed to this folly when I went through Experiencing God back in college. If you don’t know, one of the main tenets of that study is that God is always at work around us and we should join Him in that work.
Obviously God is much better at this whole planning thing than I am. So joining His plans rather than charging ahead on my own seems to be the best strategy.
Bonus:
I’m unlikely to metaphorically punch myself in the face (though I can’t do much for any “Job” situations).
Something else from this verse.
The plans we make should line up with God’s Word.
God has already shared much of His counsel with us, so we ought to make sure we line up with it.
After all, it’s what will stand.
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2025 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV®Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
