Day 10

Committing to God’s Plans: Adapted from Proverbs 16:1-4, 7, 9. My Lord, I acknowledge that so many of the plans of my heart belong to me, but the answers should come from You. All my ways seem clean in my own sight, but You weigh my motives. I hereby commit my work to You, Lord, and trust that my plans will be established according to Your will. You make everything for its own purpose…When my ways are pleasing to You Lord, You will make even my enemies at peace with me…as I plan my day, I know that You will direct my steps. In the holy name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Very few people that I know acquiesce easily. The term that comes to mind for this one is “passive aggression.” Trying to get our own way through manipulation is popular and sneaky. Wikipedia defines “passive aggression” as “behavior that is the indirect expression of hostility. Hostility is seen in procrastination, stubbornness, and deliberate or repeated failure to accomplish requested tasks for which one is (often explicitly) responsible.” When I read this definition the word “hostility” jumps out at me. Synonyms for hostility include antagonism, enmity, or intimidation—not a pretty sight. I have read this prayer many times—but this morning the words, “You will make even my enemies at peace with me” pulled at my heart. As I let the words wash over me, I thought, “God always can see the image of God in my enemy—the image that I either cannot or will not see. Will I take the time to examine my own agenda and compare it to God’s agenda? If I do that, will my behavior not only be pleasing to God, but allow my enemy to see something in me that God wants seen?