James 4:13 & 15: “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’ . . . . Instead you ought to say ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’”

It is always gratifying to live out a Sunday sermon. One recent Sunday we heard an excellent message on the foolishness of completely relying on our plans. Who knew that only a few hours later this timely message would prove true and prevent an argument.

The book of James reminds us that although we may decide on a specific course of action, we never know what a day will bring. We must be open to changes that God interjects into our lives. We may not always understand His reasons, but we can trust His wisdom and love.

That Sunday morning Dad and I attended church where the sermon reminded us of James’ timely message. Afterwards we ate a quick lunch and set out for a dear friend’s wedding.

A little after 2 p.m., we pulled into the venue’s parking lot and noticed that there weren’t many cars there. Feeling a little confused I grabbed the invitation and with unbelieving eyes realized the wedding I thought started at 2:30 didn’t actually start until 4:30.

I felt so stupid about my mistake and would have deserved it if Dad had become frustrated by my error. But I was pleasantly surprised. Instead of being aggravated Dad responded by saying, “Well, I guess this is what the Lord wanted for our day!”

So, for the next two hours Dad and I passed time at a nearby mall doing some errands. I had no idea why this blip in our day happened but it really turned into a special time for Dad and me to spend together.

While it is prudent for us to plan wisely, we must always hold our objectives loosely. It is arrogant to believe we can control all the details of our lives; it just isn’t possible. God may have other plans and we must be flexible and open to his alterations of our schedules or dreams. It is important to understand that we will accomplish our goals only if the Lord wills it to be so.

I don’t know what is on your schedule for today, but don’t be frustrated if it changes. The LORD may guide you down an unexpected, but providential, path. If He does, enjoy the ride. The sooner you learn to trust Him the happier you will be. Your positive attitude will give Him glory . . . and it may even prevent an argument.