We all have plans in life. From an early age, we begin to imagine our future, to set goals, to dream of achievements, stability, success, family, ministry, or personal fulfillment. Planning in itself is not wrong; in fact, Scripture encourages wisdom, foresight, and diligence. However, the great problem is that we do not always make the right choice, and this happens for a very simple reason: we are human beings and not gods. Our understanding is limited, our vision is short, and our hearts are often influenced by emotions, fears, desires, and even pride. For this reason, before making our decisions—no matter how small or insignificant they may seem—it would be very wise to seek an answer in God. Only then can we have correct direction and clarity for our plans. In Christianity there can be no room for pride that leads us to believe we can solve everything by ourselves. Our greatest glory is not found in self-sufficiency, but in stripping ourselves of our own confidence and placing everything we are into the hands of God and under His perfect will.
One of the greatest mistakes of modern Christianity is the subtle idea that faith is something we add to our plans, instead of the foundation upon which those plans are built. Many believers pray after making decisions, instead of praying in order to make them. We ask God to bless what we have already chosen, rather than humbly asking Him to guide us before we choose. This reveals something important about our hearts: we often want God’s approval more than God’s direction. Yet Scripture repeatedly teaches us that true wisdom begins when we acknowledge our dependence on Him.
The Bible never presents human independence as a virtue. On the contrary, it constantly warns us about trusting in our own understanding. Proverbs 3:5–6 reminds us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding, acknowledging Him in all our ways so that He may direct our paths. This principle is not poetic exaggeration; it is a spiritual reality. When we lean on ourselves, we walk according to limited wisdom. When we lean on God, we walk according to eternal truth.
The psalmist David understood this truth very clearly. David was a man of action, a warrior, a king, a leader, yet he never disconnected his decisions from God’s guidance. Time and time again, we see him inquiring of the Lord before battles, before movements, before major decisions. That is why he could confidently say:
8 Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
Psalm 25:8–10
These verses reveal something deeply comforting: God does not guide only the strong, the intelligent, or the spiritually elite. He guides sinners. David openly acknowledges human sinfulness and contrasts it with God’s goodness and uprightness. The foundation of divine guidance is not human perfection, but divine grace. God teaches sinners because He is good. He guides the meek because humility opens the door to instruction.
Verse nine is especially powerful: “The meek will he guide in judgment.” Meekness is not weakness; it is controlled strength under submission. A meek person is someone who recognizes that he does not know everything and is willing to be taught. God does not force His direction upon the proud, but He lovingly leads those who bow before Him. This is why pride is so dangerous in decision-making—it closes our ears to God’s voice.
David also says that all the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth. This means that God’s guidance is never cruel, arbitrary, or deceptive. Even when His direction leads us through difficult roads, it is always rooted in mercy and truth. Sometimes God’s answer is not what we want, but it is always what we need. Sometimes His “no” protects us from pain we cannot yet see. Sometimes His “wait” prepares us for blessings we are not ready to carry.
When we understand that we are totally depraved by nature—limited, fallen, and easily deceived—and that God alone is good and upright, the question becomes obvious: is it not better to let ourselves be advised by God Himself? Why trust a heart that Scripture says is deceitful above all things, when we can trust the God who sees the end from the beginning? True spiritual maturity is not measured by how confident we feel about our plans, but by how surrendered we are to God’s will.
God’s Word is not merely a devotional resource; it is a guide for life. Through Scripture, God reveals His character, His priorities, His warnings, and His promises. When we immerse ourselves in the Word, our thinking begins to align with God’s thinking. Decisions stop being driven only by emotion or convenience and start being shaped by truth. This is why prayer and Scripture must always walk together. Prayer without the Word can become emotional. The Word without prayer can become dry. Together, they form a compass that points us toward God’s will.
It is also important to understand that seeking God’s direction does not mean we will always receive immediate, audible answers. Sometimes guidance comes through wise counsel, through circumstances God allows or closes, through conviction in prayer, or through a growing peace that confirms the right path. What matters is the posture of the heart: a heart willing to obey even if the answer challenges our plans.
Many people ask God for direction, but few are truly ready to follow it. We often say, “Lord, show me Your will,” but what we really mean is, “Confirm what I already want to do.” Genuine surrender means being willing to abandon our plans if God redirects us. This is not easy, especially when we have invested time, resources, or emotions into our decisions. Yet obedience is always safer than stubborn persistence.
So, if you have plans to make—whether related to work, ministry, relationships, finances, or personal goals—do not take them alone. Do not rush. Do not assume. Go to your knees. Ask God to give you wisdom, clarity, and discernment. Ask Him not only to guide your steps, but to shape your desires. Trust that He knows what is best for you, even better than you know yourself.
Walking with God does not guarantee a life without problems, but it guarantees a life with purpose and direction. When God leads, even uncertainty becomes meaningful. Even waiting becomes productive. Even detours become lessons. In this way, we walk better—not because the road is easier, but because we walk with the One who never fails.
May we learn, like David, to depend daily on the Lord’s guidance, trusting that His ways are higher than ours and that His counsel is always faithful. Let us abandon pride, embrace humility, and place every plan, every decision, and every step into the hands of our good and upright God.