The audio for this devotional is not available for now, but you can have your device read it to you.
Reading options
Verse:Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. —Ephesians 3:19, 20, NIV
The thing I found hard in the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic was the inability to plan ahead. I’m a planner! I plan how and when to do things so that I know what is going to happen next. But in this situation, it has often been hard to know what is going to happen the next day or even the next moment. This is difficult for me.
I like to have some control. I just want a plan! This morning I was reading in the book of Ephesians, which was written by Paul while he was a prisoner in Rome. Paul was a planner, used to working as his own boss, traveling, and doing as he felt led by the Lord, but now he was confined in prison.
I’m guessing that at some point, he wondered what went wrong with his plan. But Paul learned the plan belongs to the Lord and revealed Him as the Planner: “In him [God] we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will” (Ephesians 1:11, NIV). Did you catch that? God works out everything in conformity with His purpose according to His plan! This reminds me of a favorite portion of Jeremiah 29: “ ‘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’ ” (verse 11, NIV). King David knew the Lord is a planner and wrote, “The Lord will work out his plans for my life” (Psalm 138:8, TLB).
Notice the way the King James Version of the Bible puts it: “The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.” Wherever you are right now, it may be hard to plan that which concerns you. It might be even harder to discern God’s plan and purpose, but rest assured, He has a plan that concerns you, and He is working out everything according to His will. You can trust that God is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20, NIV). Peter wrote, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7, NIV). J. B. Phillips beautifully translates this verse: “For you are his personal concern.” Don’t hesitate to cast all your fears, anxieties, and worries on God. He is personally concerned about you.
Myrna L. Hanna