All of us make plans, and all of us want those plans to succeed. At our best, we recognize that our efforts may fail, but often we are not at our best. We often expect that things will go our way, imagining that the universe is predictable and exploitable enough to supercede any necessity of divine intervention or assistance. But only Jesus has such power and prerogative: “He is unchangeable, and who can turn Him back? What He desires, that He does.” And in fact, He only does what He desires: “Our God is in the heavens; He does all that he pleases.” If Jesus opens the door, no one in heaven on earth will be able to shut it; if He shuts, no one opens. And not only are His plans infinitely authoritative, they are also exhaustive. His sovereignty extends to every minute detail of our lives, including the intentions of our hearts: “The king‘s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever he will.” Everything in the universe is precisely as He intends it to be. Therefore, if we are wise, we will surrender our plans to His: “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.”
“What is your beloved more than another?” —Song of Sol. 5:9