2025-11-02 PLANNING IN PENCIL - LIVING A FULLY SURRENDERED LIFE
Embrace God's Plan: Living with Faith and Flexibility
Ever find yourself meticulously planning your day, only to have everything change in an instant? It’s a common experience, and one that James addresses in his letter to early Christians. In our fast-paced world, we often fall into the trap of planning our lives in ink, forgetting that God might have a different path for us. This sermon on spiritual growth and hearing God’s voice invites us to consider the wisdom of planning in pencil, allowing God to guide our steps.
The Illusion of Control
Imagine you’re driving a car with two steering wheels. You think you’re in control, but the instructor beside you can take over at any moment. This is much like our lives. We plan our routes, set our goals, and map out our futures, but James 4:13-17 reminds us that we are not truly in control. Our lives are like a vapor, here one moment and gone the next. This isn’t meant to depress us, but to humble us and remind us of our dependence on God.
James warns against the arrogance of planning without God. It’s not that planning is wrong—Proverbs 21:5 tells us that diligent plans lead to profit—but planning without God is like boasting in our own strength. We must remember that every breath, every heartbeat, is a gift from God. When we plan, we should do so with the mindset, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
The Fragility of Life
Life is fragile and unpredictable. We don’t know what tomorrow holds, and that’s why it’s crucial to live with a heart surrendered to God. James uses the metaphor of a vapor to describe our lives, emphasizing their brevity and fragility. This perspective should lead us to gratitude and a deeper reliance on God, who is unchanging and steadfast.
Consider the biblical figures who lived by faith. Abraham, Moses, and Paul all had plans, but they allowed God to redirect their paths. Their lives were marked by a willingness to let God lead, resulting in incredible impacts for His kingdom. What could God do with your life if you fully surrendered to Him?
Living with Dependence on God
So, how do we live a life that’s fully surrendered to God? It starts with inviting Him into our daily plans. Instead of making decisions based solely on our desires, we should ask God, “What do you want me to do today?” This doesn’t mean we stop planning altogether, but that we hold our plans loosely, ready for God to change them.
Reflect on your own life. When was the last time you paused to listen for God’s direction? Are your plans written in ink, or are you willing to let God hold the eraser? By living with this mindset, we open ourselves to the incredible things God can do through us.
Take Action: Surrender Your Plans
As you go about your week, try incorporating this practice into your routine. Each morning, take a moment to pray and ask God to guide your day. Be open to His leading, even if it means changing your plans. Trust that His ways are higher than ours and that He can run our lives better than we can.
A Prayer for Guidance
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of life and the plans You have for us. Help us to surrender our desires and ambitions to You, trusting in Your perfect will. Guide our steps and give us the courage to follow where You lead. May we live each day with faith and flexibility, knowing that You are in control. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
By embracing God’s plan and living with faith, we can experience the fullness of life He intends for us. Let’s commit to planning in pencil, allowing God to write His story through us.