Ever hear this phrase? -“If you wanna hear God laugh, tell him your plans.” The country duo Van Zant used it as a song lyric in Help Somebody. I’ll admit it-I love Country music, my favorite is a little classic Kenny and Dolly circa mid 80’s. My love for country music should come as no surprise. My dad has a pickin’ porch on his property in rural east Texas. (Pickin’ porch-a porch that looks like a western store front made for playing bluegrass music. My daddy has a banjo and a handle bar mustache-true story.) The first line of Help Somebody -“Well, granddaddy was a hillbilly scholar, blue collar of a man.” Ok… so none of this is my point, but I couldn’t help myself-let’s regress.
The song, with it’s deeply highbrow lyrics, came out in 2005. It was the same year when the life I had planned for myself had taken a dramatic turn-probably why it struck me so. I learned so much that year- including the realization that we have such little control over life’s really big stuff.
If you look back at the things that have happened to you along the way, do we not have times when we say- “Whoa…I did not see that one coming.”? My experience, this thing that I hadn’t planned for, left me on my knees calling out. It also brought me to a beautiful place of growth and joy.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV) 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. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
As we enter into this new year, I have my idea of what I’d like the coming year to look like. I have goals for my personal and professional growth. I’ll also do my best to remain open to what God may have in store for me-cause who knows.
In 2015, no matter where it may lead us, “Let’s Prosper”
In this, let us pray,
“Jesus as we enter into the coming year we ask for your favor, may we prosper. Help us to relax the grip of control we have over our lives Lord so that we are able to recognize the direction you may place before us. Amen.”
Also,
“May my peers think none less of me, now that I’ve exposed my love for The Gambler, and Islands in the Streams. Amen.”
(Also published for Easter Prays on January 4th, 2015)
Thank you, this so true. As I know what I want in my life and I’m drifting farther away from that. I’m realizing that it is not about me. We are all here to glorify God. The last few months of my life God has been bringing things into my life to lead me on a very exciting journey on a path I never planned to take. But I kept trying to fight going in this direction in my life. Now I know that I am here to use the skills and knowledge that he gave me instead of going on my own path. I with fully embrace what the lord has in store for me.
Thank You for Sharing Tucker! God bless you on your Journey!