Plans and the future

Plans and the future are in the Lord's hands: a man's heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps. Diligent planning, counting the cost, and seeking counsel are wise, and plans are to be made subject to God's will, since no one knows what tomorrow will bring.

Man plans, God directs

• Proverbs 16:9
  A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
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• Proverbs 19:21
  There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
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• Proverbs 16:1
  The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.The plans of the heart belong to man, but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.
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• Jeremiah 10:23
  O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not his own; no one who walks directs his own steps.
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Commit your plans to the Lord

• Proverbs 16:3
  Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved.
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• Psalm 37:5
  Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it.
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• Proverbs 3:5-6
  ⁵Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
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If the Lord will

• James 4:13-15
  ¹³Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.” ¹⁴Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”
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• Proverbs 27:1
  Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
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• Luke 12:16-20
  ¹⁶And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. ¹⁷And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ ¹⁸And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods. ¹⁹And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ ²⁰But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’
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Planning wisely

• Proverbs 21:5
  The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.
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• Luke 14:28-30
  ²⁸For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it? ²⁹Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,Otherwise, if he lays the foundation and is unable to finish the work, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, ³⁰Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.saying, ‘This man could not finish what he started to build.’
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• Proverbs 15:22
  Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
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• Proverbs 6:6-8
  ⁶Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise. ⁷Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler, ⁸Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest.
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• Proverbs 24:27
  Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field; after that, you may build your house.
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God holds the future

• Jeremiah 29:11
  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.
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• Matthew 6:34
  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.
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• Isaiah 46:10
  Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
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• Proverbs 23:18
  For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
  Show context · Read Proverbs 23 →

See also

• Purpose
• Guidance
• Sovereignty of God
• Wisdom
• Counsel

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.