CHECK YOUR COMPASS

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do
and your plans will be established.”
—Proverbs 16:3

It's likely time to address a topic that is not covered in total in the book Noble Plans. It was always my hope that there would be an internet-based opportunity to develop and augment the content in the book, and am thankful for this blog.

Proverbs 16:3 above is also translated as "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed," in the NIV. That's not what is in the above verse, out of the New American Standard Bible.

In a nutshell: just because you commit to noble plans for your own life, there is no guarantee they "will succeed" as the NIV translators put it. That's not how it works.

The Hebrew word for "established" or "succeed" in these two translations is kuwn, which means "prepare, be ready, direct," or "confirmed." There is no inference that "success" is a natural byproduct.

Noble Plans is about how you live, how to bring your heart and mind into greater harmony with one of God's bigger pictures. But as with anything, there are always obstacles and temptations, and often, ignobility will sneak in and win the day.

But if your plans are noble, if you stand by them, they do become who you are rather than what you do, and as long as you remain committed (established) – that is to say as long as you stand by your plan – you will do well – even if you do not always succeed, even if you do not win each and every battle.

If you approach noble living with that attitude, rather than, "If I do it this way God must guarantee my success," then in truth, you will succeed.

Noble Plans the book as well as noble plans the biblical principle, are a spiritual compass to keep you pointed in the right direction. But for a compass to work, you have to look at it – often. Otherwise, you can drift degree by degree until your ways are no longer as established.

Make your noble plans, commit them unto God, stand by them, and check your compass routinely.

"The noble mane devises noble plans and by noble plans he stands."