Written by David P. Nolte
Here, I hope, is the last chapter in the "Case of the Clobbered Colt!" (Note the Perry Mason influence there!).
As things stand now, the Colt will be repaired by Wednesday of this week (Yeah, sure! In somebody's dream!). Instead of replacing the Colt, we decided to replace the Dodge Caravan (108,000 miles and likely to need some major work soon!). We prayed about it, decided what we could pay and started looking several weeks ago. We found a 1995 Chevy (CHEVY??? I'm a Dodge man!) Lumina with 5,000 actual miles on it for a tremendous price. It has more features on it than many newer vans with more miles and much higher price tags. We slept on it, prayed about it and, after the usual "offer - counter offer," ended up driving it home.
I thought we'd have to replace the Colt and keep the Caravan. Exactly the opposite happened. The point is that what we think will happen sometimes doesn't; and what we think won't happen, does.
The Proverb says, "The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps" Proverbs 16:9. We read further in Proverbs 19:21 "Many are the plans in a man's heart, But the counsel of the Lord, it will stand."
In life we need to make plans, set goals, and establish agendas. BUT (what a pivotal word! It changes all that goes before it!) do so with GOD in mind. We plan, but He directs our steps and He may detour or reverse us. We plan, and it may or may not come to pass -- but what the Lord counsels will be permanent.
Ask the Lord to direct you in making plans in the first place. Check His word to eliminate any plans that obviously conflict with what He's already told you. Check circumstances to see if there are closed doors or other signs to guide you. Then ask Him to confirm your way, to establish your plans or to cause them to go awry in case you are pushing forward in a wrong course.
Hear the words Isaiah spoke to Israel, "And your ears will hear a word behind you, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right or to the left" Isaiah 30:21.
Yours for following as He leads,
Dave