“If you want to make God laugh, tell Him about your plans.”
This quote by Woody Allen has always intrigued me. But it wasn’t until recently that I realized he is basically paraphrasing Psalm 2:4: “He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord holds them in derision.”
Who is the Lord holding in derision? Who is He laughing at and scorning? The first three verses of Psalm 2 explain.
“Why do the nations rage and the people plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and His Anointed saying, ‘Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”
The nations and their leaders are raging, plotting in vain, setting themselves up, and taking counsel together against God. They are trying to break free from any bonds put upon them by the Lord. They want to do their own thing their own way. They don’t want to be tied down by anyone else; they have their plans that they want to accomplish and they want to carry them out on their own terms. And God just watches it all with humor.
This week is a week for considering the future. We reflect on the year gone by and look to the new year ahead. It’s time for a fresh start! Time for the resolutions and recommitments! Time to set goals and make plans!
I imagine sometimes God is getting a hearty laugh out of me.
As I consider the next 365 days, what is my mindset? Am I plotting in vain? Am I forging ahead with my own hopes and plans? I think often I do this unintentionally. I just consider what I want to accomplish and then move forward with what I think is best. But sometimes it is quite intentional. I want to hold the reins. I don’t want to be trapped by God or anyone else. I want to do what I want to do.
I can almost hear Him chuckle.
Because am I really in control anyway? According to Psalm 2, God mocks this mindset. We may feel like we can plot and plan and prepare on our own, but that makes us a laughingstock to the One sitting up in the heavens, the One who created the universe and ordains everything that happens within it.
What if instead I would stop and prayerfully consider what God would have me focus on this year? What if I would ask Him to show me areas I need to grow? What if instead of telling Him my plans, I would align my will with His?
Because I can rest in peace knowing my life is in the hands of a compassionate God who loves me and knows what is best for me.
“Blessed are those who take refuge in Him.” Psalm 2:12b.
God, It’s not easy to let go. But I turn the upcoming year over to you with open hands. Please show me what you would have me do, and then give me the strength to do it. Help me to submit my days to you, and to look to you every step of the way.
Kris, it is so good to know that I have a friend who listens closely to God and whose writing reflects some of the same things that I’ve been thinking and experiencing. Just last week, I told Brenda that I want to approach whatever is coming in the future with open hands. This way I am able to receive what God offers instead of taking what I want. You are a blessing! Keep being awesome!
Thank you, Ryan! So true — opening ourselves to God enables us to receive so many blessings. If only I could remember that!
I put everything on “the shelf” in front of God recently. It was everything I’d believed or hoped for through what I thought God was showing me about where He wanted to take me in the near future. I asked Him to take off the shelf what was from Him and leave the rest that was not. Then I could follow closely His plans, not mine. This was my way of presenting “open hands” for the new year.
That’s such a good analogy, Marguerite. Love it.
Beautifully written Kris! God’s will is nothing new to my prayers, yet do I really follow through or do I make my own plans and goals. Such a simple yet profound way to look at our goal setting. Thanks for sharing! Happy New Year!
Yes. It’s one thing to pray, but another to actually live it out. Not easy!
Happy New Year to you, too, Bethany!