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Day 204 Psalm 107:10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; 11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and scorned the counsel of the Most-High: 12 Therefore He brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help. 13 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. 14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their bands in sunder. 15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! 16 For He hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder. Do your actions backfire and you wonder what went wrong? Do you run through your plan over and over and don’t see how it could fail? Do you turn to others to help find where you went wrong? The psalmist showed when you scorn God and try to do things on your own, your efforts will fail. Nothing you can do will change the outcome God planned for you when you lift up your plans and don’t seek God’s help with them. As Christians, you think you know everything and can go ahead of God because it can’t possibly go wrong. When you make plans in the name of God without seeking His direction, you will fail. Who are you trying to impress? Most often the answer is your colleagues, friends, those you aim to impress. You will fall short of the mark. It isn’t until everything you try on your own fails that you turn to God for direction. You see this illustrated in the history of Israel when they set out to conquer the land of Canaan because God told them they would. Yet, when they went to battle without God and didn’t do things exactly as He instructed, they lost the battle. Only when they asked God why they lost the battle that they confessed their sin and followed His instructions and saw victory in the next battle. What are your plans for your future? Have you laid them before God and asked Him what His plans are for you? Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. His thoughts, His ways, His plans, not yours. When you determine to seek God first in everything, He will lay His plans before you with instructions on how to carry them out. When you do things His way, you will not fail. Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. What is your desire? Lay it before God and find out if that is His will for you. Let’s pray: Father, help me not to go ahead of Your plans for my life. Help me seek You first in everything I do so I will know Your heart and will for my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 3 January 2022 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay.