Promises Within His Will
Planning with God’s will is like flipping a switch connected to the right source—His power always flows.
Devotional Credit: Day by Day by Grace by Bob Hoekstra
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Today’s reading from Bob Hoekstra invites me to examine how I frame my intentions, goals, and promises—especially those aimed at self-improvement, success, or personal transformation. The devotional doesn’t discourage setting plans or hoping for better outcomes, but it lovingly redirects the foundation upon which such plans must rest: the will of God.
James reminds us that our lives are brief, like vapor—visible for a moment and then gone. In light of such transience, presumptuous confidence in tomorrow reveals pride, not faith. When I say things like, “I will do better,” “I will succeed,” or “I will overcome,” but exclude God's will from the equation, I lean toward self-effort and self-determination rather than humility and dependence on grace.
Examples from David and Paul remind me of a posture worth imitating—one that embraces, delights in, and yields to the Lord’s will as the guiding factor of life. Even Jesus, the Son of God, modeled full submission to the Father’s will both in His teachings and in His anguished prayer in Gethsemane. This is no rigid submission—it’s relational trust. To live by grace means I make room in my language, mindset, and daily attitude for “If the Lord wills.” It reminds me that God’s presence is not only sovereign but also personal, leading me lovingly through each step.
✍🏼 Personalized Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
I did not create you to carry tomorrow in your own hands. You are not responsible for mapping out your future or making promises fueled by your own resolve. I call you to rest in Me, to walk in step with Me, and to acknowledge My will as the light for your path.
Your life is a mist—beautiful, but brief. Do not waste your vapor chasing shadows of independence. Instead, delight in My will. Let your goals be held loosely in your hand and placed daily into Mine. David knew this joy, and Paul lived in this peace. They learned that surrender is not weakness—it is worship. When you acknowledge Me in your plans, you honor Me as your Shepherd and Source.
I do not resist your ambitions; I simply invite you to let Me guide them. When you say, “If the Lord wills,” you are not doubting yourself—you are trusting Me. You are setting your heart in alignment with Heaven, where My will is done perfectly. My grace flows to the humble, not to the self-reliant. Remain clothed in humility, and you will walk in favor, not frustration.
Come—make your plans with Me, not before Me. My will is not a cage; it is your resting place. Trust Me with today, and let Me hold your tomorrow.
Scriptures referenced: James 4:13–16; 1 Peter 5:5; Psalm 40:8; 143:10; Acts 18:21; 1 Corinthians 4:19; Matthew 6:9–10; 26:39
🔑 Real-Life Analogy
It’s like entering a room and flipping a light switch, assuming the power will always be there. But the electricity isn’t something we control—it flows from a source outside of us. Planning without seeking God's will is like wiring our goals to a dead switch. But when we stay connected to His current, we find that the lights always come on at the right time.
🙏🏼 Prayer of Confidence
Father, I thank You that I no longer need to strain toward imagined outcomes or try to steer my future by sheer willpower. You have already written the days of my life, and You walk with me moment by moment. I rest in the certainty that Your will is good, acceptable, and perfect—and I get to participate in it. Thank You for replacing my striving with surrender, and my pride with peace. I trust You with every tomorrow.