Ours or His

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

OURS OR HIS

Prov 16:9

9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

NIV

This seems to echo the sentiments of the first verse of this chapter of proverbs, yet this is the one which has been quoted more often. Even though it is saying almost the same thing as verse one, it still has a slightly different twist. We are the only living species which has the capacity to determine the course of our lives. We have been given authority over all other living species upon this earth. With this capacity to make our own way, we always face choices in the journey of life. Some of those choices are what we might think are important to us, but in the grand scheme of things may be quite inconsequential. The one choice which determines everything is the choice to follow the ways of God and live or follow our own ways and die. It is to our shame if we choose to follow after our owe ways, but yet there is also the sovereignty of God we must deal with. Because God determines our steps, he has the providential power to determine the course of our lives. We might desire certain things in life, but it is truly up to God whether we achieve or obtain those things. We might also see in this proverb that each person plans the course of their life, to live according to their own ways, or Gods way. He then has determined those who live according to their way will step into death, and those who live his way will step into everlasting life. Either way we look at this, we know one thing for sure, God is the creator and we are the created. Although he gave us this free will to choose our way, he has the authority over all things, and in the end, his will shall be accomplished. We only need to make the choice, ours or his.