Plans Of Life

I love to read those little italicized additions to verses of my Bible. The Bible version that I most enjoy is Zondervan's Amplified Bible. As we are instructed to read and study the Word throughout our lives, many stories, commandments, parables, and truths are very familiar, so I cherish it when the Lord gives me something new or challenging in my reading.

It happened the other day — but let me start at the beginning.

My mother is almost 91 years old. She misses family, friends, and a lifestyle that is now gone. She states that she would like to pass on, but she hangs on to life by her fingernails with gusto. I told her that if I were still alive when I reached 80 years old, that would be it. I wouldn't want to live any longer. I told her that I would just stop taking all my medication (17 pills a day) and with my medical problems, it would not be long before my body died. I know in my "knower" that I'm going to heaven, so I would be ready to meet the Lord. (How smug I sounded, right?)

Then, I was reading my daily devotionals a few days later, and, lo and behold, I read:

Proverbs 18:9 – He who is loose and slack in his work is brother to him who is a destroyer and he who does not use his endeavours to heal himself is brother to him who commits suicide. (AMP)

The italicized words are additions from the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament. It is not in all versions. The footnote reads: "Its statement addresses the problem of whether one has a moral right to neglect his body by 'letting nature take its unhindered course' in illness."

Maybe some already knew of this, but I didn't. God has shown me that my plan was not in agreement with His plan. Obviously, when I made my plan, I didn't consult the Lord in prayer first. Perhaps your plans are a little awry too? In the future, I will remember this:

Proverbs 19:21 – Many plans are in a man's mind, but it is the Lord's purpose for him that will stand. (AMP)

Prayer: Thank You, Father God, for Your Word and for Your patience as we learn what You want us to know. Please forgive our sins and mistakes and lead us to Your answers in Your holy Word. Amen.