Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
     
      For my blog friend, Jami.
      May your healing come swiftly. Isa. 58:8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. I would ask that everyone who reads this blog agree with me in prayer for Jami’s healing.
       I was thinking of all my plans that never came about over the last three years. My grandiose plans failed because of circumstances that were out of my control. I had experienced a major set back in business because of events I could not have seen or predicted. Life had interfered with my plans. 
      The worst part of it was that it was the life of others that had affected what I was working toward. James 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 
      A few years ago I noticed a sharp decline in business and the losses continued for three years straight. I found myself losing my customers to bankruptcy, conglomerate take over, and older company owners trying to sell their business, but there were no buyers; so they would shut down. I lost approximately forty-eight percent of my customers and my revenues were drastically down affecting my life and all the plans I was getting ready to implement as I got closer to retirement. 
       But Lord, don’t you want me to succeed and be happy? Doesn’t your word say I will prosper and be in health? Psalm 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper. What happened? Where did I go wrong? What did I do to bring this mess down on me? Is there hidden sin in my life that is causing these events to turn on me?  
      John 9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. Have you ever asked these questions when the well-meaning plans of your life have gone off the rails of your designed track? I think we all have asked something similar at some time or another. 
      We walk around perplexed and feeling alone, plus we start noticing Job’s friends showing up in our lives making us focus on all the losses we have been experiencing and pointing out that most likely it is all our own fault. Not so simple a diagnosis, my fellow saints. Isa. 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
        Andy Stanley says in his book Next Generation Leader, “Write your plans in pencil but write your vision in ink.” Our plans do get messed up within life, but the vision that God put in our hearts for our lives is steadfast and true. It is the vision of God that keeps our faith going forward from glory to glory, even when someone is battling an insidious disease or dealing with overwhelming odds. Often Life brings grievous words and it will stir up anger within because we are not where we want to be according to our timetable.
       When we let the Holy Spirit minister to our wounded life, He will, with a soft answer, turn away the growing wrath that provokes our thoughts to fear. God’s word is life and it will bring life-changing victory to any situation. Isa. 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 
      The soft answer that the Lord gives us is that He will never leave us without guidance or love. Rom. 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
      I pray for everyone whose plans have failed them. I ask in Jesus name for the courage it takes to get up and proclaim the day of the Lord for each one of our lives. Thank you, Lord, for your word that sets us free. Josh. 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whither soever thou goes.