If God has a plan for me, why should I even try to make one?

Genesis 41:28-36“This will happen just as I have described it, for God has revealed to Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do. The next seven years will be a period of great prosperity throughout the land of Egypt. But afterward there will be seven years of famine so great that all the prosperity will be forgotten in Egypt. . . .Therefore, Pharaoh should find an intelligent and wise man and put him in charge of the entire land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh should appoint supervisors over the land and let them collect one-fifth of all the crops during the seven good years. . . . Store it away, and guard it so there will be food in the cities. That way there will be enough to eat when the seven years of famine come to the land of Egypt. Otherwise this famine will destroy the land.”

Joseph’s willingness to use his gifts to help the Egyptians plan for seven years of famine also allowed God’s plan to be fulfilled.

Nehemiah 2:11-17So I arrived in Jerusalem. Three days later, I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others with me. . . . The city officials did not know I had been out there or what I was doing, for I had not yet said anything to anyone about my plans. I had not yet spoken to the Jewish leaders—the priests, the nobles, the officials, or anyone else in the administration. But now I said to them, “You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!”

Nehemiah demonstrated wise and shrewd leadership when he carefully planned his project before beginning to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. He even planned the way he would reveal the plans God had given him, first by taking a few trusted advisors on an inspection tour, then announcing the plan when he had the facts in hand.

James 4:15What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”

All our planning is futile without God. Plan humbly by continually acknowledging God.