How often do we hear the phrase, “never settle”. This phrase is often used as it pertains to our lives, relationships, dreams and goals. We all want what is best for our lives and we often make plans for this life without including God. We write plans in pen about our careers, our families, financial goals and even down to the neighborhood and home we want to live in. We create plans then we take it to God in hopes that He will bless our already put together plan. This is a grave mistake that we make in our lives time and time again when we plan ahead of God.
Proverbs 16:9 says, the heart of a plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
Surrender is defined as to cease resistance; to submit to authority; to hand over; to stop fighting.
Settle is defined as to agree upon; not necessarily what you want but you take what you can get; to not move or change.
Settling is an act of self-deprivation. When you settle you believe in your heart that this is the best that it will get for me. This is the outcome that we have when we depend on ourselves instead of depending on God. Settling a carnal reaction to defeat when things don’t work out as planned.
Self-deprivation is defined as voluntary denial or suppression of your own interest.
It is a scheme and the plot of the enemy that you give up and give in to this belief. However, this is not the will of God for your life. God doesn’t want us to settle for anything. God desires that we surrender our lives, family, career, goals and dreams to Him. We can make good plans for ourselves, but God makes better plans.
Jeremian 29:11 says, “for I know the plans I have for you said the Lord, thoughts of peace and not for evil, to give you an expected end. (a good end, a satisfactory end, and well end)
Isaish 55:8-9 says, “for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways declare the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
When we settle, we do ourselves a disservice, because we can’t see beyond our natural sight. But when we surrender ourselves and plans to God, faith takes flight. Hebrews 11:1 says, “no faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen”. God knows the future, He’s in the future, so only He knows the way that we take. We settle when we trust ourselves, but we surrender when we trust God. Proverbs 16:3 says, commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established. We often do the opposite of this which causes us much grievance, and we find ourselves asking God why our plans didn’t work out. The art of sweet surrender is inviting God on the front end so that we don’t have to do so much rearranging when things don’t work out as planned. God finds great joy in seeing His children prosper. 3 John 2-5 says, beloved I wish above all else that you prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. God wishes that we prosper in all things and that includes our plans. I encourage you today, don’t settle, but surrender your plans to God and watch Him establish your ways. I know from experience, it can seem painful to give up such good plans you’ve created for yourself, but trust me, your plan is flawed. A plan without God is settling, but a plan with God is surrendering. God has a way of ironing out the flaws when we surrender it all to Him. Let’s be clear, surrendering doesn’t mean that you will be free from afflictions, but it does mean God promises you’ll have backup, ways out of His way will be created for you. Hold fast to the confession of your faith. Settling is an act of disobedience when we accept less than God’s best for our lives. Surrendering is a beautiful act of obedience because we entrust only God’s best for our lives.
So, let God work the kinks out. Be encouraged, blessings flow!