“We can make our plans,
but the LORD determines our steps.“
My goal for this year has been to simplify. I feel like God is leading me to do this as well as to live with less. God in His amazing ways does lead us in what is coming ahead. He prepares us. I may not know the why, but I do feel led.
This week when I was shopping I realized what the why is. Prices are going up. Inflation. One store where I saw this was Hobby Lobby. No more 40% off one item coupon plus their standard % off in departments had changed. I don’t fault them. Last year was tough on everybody. But the prices for items have begun to change in our stores.
“Many plans are in a man’s heart,
but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.“
Let the Lord determine your steps. He may be leading you to replace broken things around your house. This week my trusty iron broke. I replaced it. I noticed my cutting boards needed to be replaced. So I replaced those too. What’s in your house that you have noticed is not working right or is just worn out? Take that as clue that God may be leading you to replace some items. Let God care for your family through you. This is our job as Proverbs 31 women.
“She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
She carefully watches everything in her household
and suffers nothing from laziness.“
If we are going to start paying more for items, then I do want to do some preparations. But wait, I already have been doing that. God has already lead me to refresh items around the house that need it. He has also impressed me to live with less. I’d love to hear in the comments about how God has lead you this year on these things too.
My heart wonders what is next. Once I have replaced what is broken and made sure my family has basic clothes for the next season, then what? Well, I’d like to ask God to help me understand my life.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, what should be my focus in this new season? Last quarter I went through the house and refreshed each room. I purchased what needed to be purchased. But now what? If things are going to be more expensive, I don’t want to be spending money on things, especially things I don’t need. Please show me what’s next.
God’s Word to us: Starting today you will live life with a new purpose. Look around you. Live life in the present for Me! You’ve waited and waited. Now it’s time to live in the now. Breathe today’s air. Be present in today’s conversations. Enjoy today’s food. Live, live, live. Keep your thoughts here. Don’t let them wander or wonder about the future. It is best to live in today, to think in today too. This is the tomorrow you were thinking about yesterday. Tomorrow thinking has to stop. Today thinking is the new “in”.
My Heart’s Cry was to seek God on what I should be focusing on next for this year 2021. It is obvious God wants us to live in today. Thankfully we need less if we are just thinking about today. Is what we have enough for today? We buy for the future but half the time we don’t even need it. The future comes and it just becomes clutter or used only once, when something else we already had could have worked for that day’s event. You don’t need to be Pinterest perfect! Enjoy the day with your friends and family. They are the stars of your occasion. Children don’t have to look perfect. A new outfit isn’t needed for yourself. Just go and have fun. Be in the moment. Live. Enjoy life. That is what this season is about. Not a Pinterest life, not a life to be posted on social media, instead, a real life.
Lastly friends, don’t live in fear. Don’t shop out of fear either. Stop and pray for a sound mind. Pray that you can prepare for the future without fear. If you truly believe that God is determining your steps and that His purposes will prevail then you can laugh without fear of the future.
Let’s be that bold! Knowing God determines our steps gives us huge freedom when we trust in Him. I want to leave you with these well known and loved verses.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.“
If you have given your life to God, then trust Him with all your heart. That is what Christians do, we follow Christ.
I hope this has encouraged you today.
Kim
Proverbs 16:9 NLT
Proverbs 19:21 Berean
Proverbs 31:25&27 NLT
Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT