1 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:13,250 Speaker 1: Life Audio Welcome to the Crosswalk Devotional. We're glad to 2 00:00:13,289 --> 00:00:17,270 Speaker 1: have you listening with us. Today's topic is Prevailing Purpose. 3 00:00:18,130 --> 00:00:20,700 Speaker 1: We'll return with the devotional after a brief message from 4 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:38,920 Speaker 1: our sponsors. Prevailing Purpose, written and read by Megan J. Connor. 5 00:00:40,740 --> 00:00:42,740 Speaker 1: Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it 6 00:00:42,820 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 1: is the Lord's purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19, 21 NIV. 7 00:00:48,830 --> 00:00:51,449 Speaker 1: I don't know about you, but I love a good plan. 8 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:55,490 Speaker 1: There is something so satisfying about witnessing dreams or goals 9 00:00:55,570 --> 00:00:58,770 Speaker 1: become reality. Even better when you feel a sense of 10 00:00:58,810 --> 00:01:04,830 Speaker 1: accomplishment as they are fulfilled. Perhaps you spent years researching, studying, preparing, praying, 11 00:01:04,930 --> 00:01:08,550 Speaker 1: and planning for your future. Then the day finally arrived. 12 00:01:09,090 --> 00:01:11,890 Speaker 1: All your patience and hard work paid off. You received 13 00:01:11,910 --> 00:01:14,890 Speaker 1: the diploma, started the new job, married the maid of 14 00:01:14,930 --> 00:01:17,330 Speaker 1: your dreams, or filled that final seat at the family 15 00:01:17,370 --> 00:01:22,569 Speaker 1: dining room table. What an incredible feeling. You planned, you pursued, 16 00:01:22,810 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 1: you sacrificed, you worked, you waited, and the desires of 17 00:01:26,390 --> 00:01:29,870 Speaker 1: your heart became reality. Like the last puzzle piece fitting 18 00:01:29,910 --> 00:01:33,990 Speaker 1: perfectly into place, the framework you designed produced your anticipated outcome. 19 00:01:35,470 --> 00:01:38,619 Speaker 1: Sounds incredible, right? But how many of us can really 20 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 1: say our picture-perfect ideas have always become reality? If your 21 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:45,620 Speaker 1: life has been anything like mine, I would speculate things 22 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:50,559 Speaker 1: haven't always worked out as planned. Maybe you prearranged, pursued, worked, 23 00:01:50,940 --> 00:01:54,940 Speaker 1: and then overworked, struggled, dug deep, fell down, and then 24 00:01:55,020 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 1: pulled yourself back up by your bootstraps, adamantly refusing to 25 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:01,410 Speaker 1: give up on the vision you saw for your future. Yet, 26 00:02:01,940 --> 00:02:05,050 Speaker 1: despite your passionate efforts, it simply was not to be. 27 00:02:06,030 --> 00:02:10,650 Speaker 1: Unmet expectations or unfulfilled longings can be disappointing, frustrating, and 28 00:02:10,690 --> 00:02:14,850 Speaker 1: for some, even devastating. Where then can we find comfort 29 00:02:14,950 --> 00:02:19,389 Speaker 1: or gain understanding when our dreams are dashed? Today's scripture 30 00:02:19,450 --> 00:02:22,270 Speaker 1: comes to us from the book of Proverbs. Proverbs is 31 00:02:22,310 --> 00:02:25,330 Speaker 1: believed to be written by King Solomon, David's son, who 32 00:02:25,370 --> 00:02:29,470 Speaker 1: succeeded him as the next ruler. Solomon was known worldwide 33 00:02:29,530 --> 00:02:32,970 Speaker 1: for his sage wisdom. In the opening chapter of Proverbs, 34 00:02:33,030 --> 00:02:36,950 Speaker 1: the writer shares the purpose of his communication. The Proverbs 35 00:02:37,010 --> 00:02:40,910 Speaker 1: of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel. For gaining 36 00:02:40,980 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 1: wisdom and instruction, for understanding words of insight, for receiving 37 00:02:45,620 --> 00:02:49,340 Speaker 1: instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just 38 00:02:49,460 --> 00:02:52,380 Speaker 1: and fair. for giving prudence to those who are simple, 39 00:02:52,690 --> 00:02:57,070 Speaker 1: knowledge and discretion to the young. Proverbs 1, 1-4 NIV 40 00:02:58,490 --> 00:03:01,390 Speaker 1: Solomon clearly communicates that the purpose of these writings is 41 00:03:01,410 --> 00:03:04,990 Speaker 1: to help others gain insight and knowledge. He is not 42 00:03:05,030 --> 00:03:08,190 Speaker 1: trying to boast or grandstand. His goal is to teach. 43 00:03:09,169 --> 00:03:12,300 Speaker 1: Solomon concludes his introduction with a powerful reminder that the 44 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:15,620 Speaker 1: true origin of all wisdom is the Lord when he states, 45 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:18,690 Speaker 1: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. 46 00:03:18,790 --> 00:03:23,340 Speaker 1: Proverbs 1, 7 NIV. If we truly long for insight 47 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 1: and understanding, God is the only source. He is not 48 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:29,920 Speaker 1: only the founder of all knowledge, but he sees what 49 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 1: we don't see. He understands what we fail to comprehend. 50 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:36,940 Speaker 1: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your 51 00:03:36,980 --> 00:03:40,140 Speaker 1: ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are 52 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:42,540 Speaker 1: higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than 53 00:03:42,580 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 1: your ways. and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 5, 54 00:03:46,420 --> 00:03:51,150 Speaker 1: 8-9 NIV Our vision for our own lives is limited, 55 00:03:51,430 --> 00:03:54,850 Speaker 1: at times maybe even flawed. We are mortal beings. We 56 00:03:54,910 --> 00:03:57,730 Speaker 1: reside in a framework designed by the creator of the universe. 57 00:03:58,610 --> 00:04:01,910 Speaker 1: With such limited human understanding, it is impossible for us 58 00:04:01,950 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 1: to accurately measure our lives and their meanings. As such, 59 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 1: the plans and pursuits we select for ourselves may not 60 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:11,850 Speaker 1: be what God would choose. Like the potter who looks 61 00:04:11,890 --> 00:04:14,130 Speaker 1: at a lump of clay and sees the masterpiece it 62 00:04:14,170 --> 00:04:17,849 Speaker 1: will become, our Lord recognizes the vessel He is creating 63 00:04:17,910 --> 00:04:20,890 Speaker 1: in each of us. He crafted us in our mother's womb, 64 00:04:21,390 --> 00:04:25,870 Speaker 1: uniquely different and for His good pleasure, Psalm 139.13. We 65 00:04:25,910 --> 00:04:28,650 Speaker 1: can trust that His design for us is good. He 66 00:04:28,730 --> 00:04:31,700 Speaker 1: has a prevailing purpose for each and every one of us. 67 00:04:32,820 --> 00:04:34,840 Speaker 1: Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it 68 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:41,510 Speaker 1: is the Lord's purpose that prevails, Proverbs 19.21 NIV. Intersecting 69 00:04:41,610 --> 00:04:44,570 Speaker 1: Faith and Life Have you felt like the plans you 70 00:04:44,610 --> 00:04:47,900 Speaker 1: had for your own life were thwarted? If so, did 71 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:51,660 Speaker 1: your unmet expectations prompt disappointment and heartache? Or were you 72 00:04:51,740 --> 00:04:54,580 Speaker 1: able to recognize God was working for good on your behalf? 73 00:04:55,820 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 1: Take some time today to look back upon your life 74 00:04:58,180 --> 00:05:00,380 Speaker 1: and identify the times when you clearly thought your life 75 00:05:00,420 --> 00:05:03,070 Speaker 1: was going to go one way, yet the Lord diverted 76 00:05:03,089 --> 00:05:07,010 Speaker 1: your path. How does recognizing His direction in past circumstances 77 00:05:07,410 --> 00:05:09,550 Speaker 1: help you to trust in His will for your future? 78 00:05:10,529 --> 00:05:14,720 Speaker 1: For further reading, take a look at Isaiah 5 8-13 79 00:05:15,220 --> 00:05:24,910 Speaker 1: and Psalm 139 13-18. Thanks for listening to today's devotional. 80 00:05:25,210 --> 00:05:27,150 Speaker 1: If you liked what you heard today, we want to 81 00:05:27,190 --> 00:05:30,690 Speaker 1: make sure you know about our sister podcast, Your Daily Prayer. 82 00:05:31,210 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 1: When you follow Your Daily Prayer in your favorite podcast app, 83 00:05:34,980 --> 00:05:37,700 Speaker 1: you'll get a brand new prayer and devotional each day, 84 00:05:38,150 --> 00:05:41,650 Speaker 1: So your days begin in conversation with God. If you're 85 00:05:41,690 --> 00:05:44,480 Speaker 1: looking to grow in prayer or start your day with 86 00:05:44,500 --> 00:05:48,180 Speaker 1: your heart focused on the right things, search for Your 87 00:05:48,260 --> 00:05:51,840 Speaker 1: Daily Prayer in your favorite podcast app and be sure 88 00:05:51,860 --> 00:05:54,279 Speaker 1: to follow the show so you get a new prayer 89 00:05:54,339 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 1: delivered straight to you each morning.