As we think about goals, plans, and hopes for the new year, today’s devotional reminds us of something essential, placing those plans in God’s hands.
True peace comes when we trust Him to lead the way.
Scripture:
“Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.”
— Proverbs 16:3 (NKJV)
Reflection:
It’s natural, and even wise, to make plans for the new year. We set goals, map out next steps, and imagine what we hope life will look like. But Scripture reminds us that planning without surrender can quickly lead to anxiety, pressure, and disappointment.
To “commit” our works to the Lord means more than asking God to bless what we’ve already decided. It means placing our plans before Him with open hands, allowing Him to shape, redirect, refine, or even replace them. When we do this, God doesn’t just influence the outcome, He establishes our thoughts. He brings clarity where there was confusion, peace where there was striving, and confidence where there was fear.
God cares not only about where you’re going, but how you get there. He is concerned with your character as much as your destination, your obedience as much as your achievement. When our plans are aligned with His will, our minds become steadier, our decisions wiser, and our hearts more at rest.
As the new year approaches, God invites us to release the pressure to control every detail and instead trust the One who sees the full picture.
Application:
Bring your plans before God honestly and intentionally. Share your hopes, goals, and concerns with Him, and ask Him to align your desires with His purpose. Pay attention to where He may be inviting you to slow down, let go, or trust Him more deeply.
Challenge for Today:
Choose one specific goal or decision for the new year. Pray over it and surrender it fully to God, without conditions. Ask Him to lead, even if the path looks different than you expected.
Prayer:
Lord, I place my plans in Your hands. Guide my steps, establish my thoughts, and align my heart with Your will. Help me trust You not only with the outcome, but with the process. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
If this devotional helped center your heart today, please share it with a friend or family member who is making plans for the new year. Walking into the future with God changes everything.
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