Daily Devotional for March 17, 2021

Daylight savings time began this past Sunday.  I was pumped because that meant more time after work to get chores done on the ranch.

Monday, everything was planned.  As soon as I got home, I was going to hook up the sprayer to the tractor and start getting rid of weeds.  Then Shannon got in the way.

As I pulled up our road, I saw Shannon standing by the corral.  She was trying to move one of the heavy pipe panels.

This was not a good idea because she’s still recovering from shoulder surgery.

I stopped the truck, walked over to the corral, and that was the moment my plans were changed for me.

After Shannon gave me the long list of things I was to do, I started to put my foot down and remind her I was the man in charge.  I was not going to build fence because I had already planned to spray weeds.  I had made up my mind.

As I was working on the fence, I realized I’m not in charge of much of anything.  But I never have been.

My obsession of making lists and mapping out every part of my day never seems to work out.  Much like Shannon’s To-Do-List, something always gets in the way of my plans.  That’s the moment all my carefully thought-out plans go right out the window.  That’s just how life works.

While I can’t prove it, I am pretty sure the writer of James had a Shannon in his life.  That’s why he said, “Come now, you who say,‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.” (James 4:13-16)

So, know that your plans may or may not work out exactly the way you want.  That’s okay because God still sits on his throne and Jesus is still Lord.  That’s all that really matters.

Prayer:  Dear Gracious Heavenly God, often I am so glued to my plans, I do not see the opportunities you place in front of me.  Open my eyes, mind, and spirit so that I can always adapt to the changes of the day.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

Today, as you plan for the challenges that will come your way, be ready to adapt to the unexpected.

Also, if you are inflexible and believe your plans matter more than anything else, I will lend you Shannon.  That’ll fix your wagon.

I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins