In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)Most Christians believe God has a plan for their lives. At the same time, many Christians also believe in the concept of free will. Are the ideas of God's plan and man's free will compatible? If so, how does that work? What's the balance between God's sovereignty and our freedom to choose?
Have you ever started down one path only to end up somewhere completely different? How could I have known when I started taking piano lessons at age 9 in Erie, Pennsylvania that it would one day result in me being a pastor in the Pacific Northwest? And I know God isn't finished with me yet. It can take years for the reality of God's plan to unfold, but as we look back through the interplay of free choice and random coincidence, we can see the hand of God that has directed us to this time and this place to fulfill his purpose in our lives.
Some would say, Okay, then God's predetermined plan trumps our free will. But which God is greater? The God who pulls people's strings like a puppeteer, giving them only the illusion of choice? Or the God who allows his children real freedom, directing their steps only through the persuasive power of his amazing love?
How has God brought you here?
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