“The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the Lord” (Proverbs 21:31).
There are two common ditches people can end up in when living with the reality of divine providence.
Ditch # 1: God’s providence—if it actually does exist—cannot be trusted; therefore, I must make careful and precise plans and trust in them. I will plan: “Today or tomorrow I will go to this place and stay there for a certain period of time; I will do this and the outcome will be one of resounding success” (James 4:13). At no time does God’s will and providence impact your plans (James 4:15); they are excluded from your thinking and life. This ditch ignores the constant uncertainty of life (James 4:14) and is foolishly saturated with pride (James 4:16). It is sin (James 4:17).
Ditch # 2: God’s providence means I never have to live intentionally. I just mindlessly live in the moment and presume upon God to bless my decision to be tossed about by my ever-changing circumstances. No spiritual battle plans. No forethought or preparations made for the spiritual training and discipline of my children. No attempts to develop my potential into more talents. I am just a bubble on the ocean of life, tossed about by the wind and waves of time and circumstances.
This proverb gets to the heart of the matter. The correct approach is not: My plans and preparation only, nor is it God’s providence only. Rather, it is my plans and preparations made with the caveat of “if the Lord wills” plus God’s providence. This is the correct battle plan to have for achieving victorious spiritual living.
