The Bible speaks to plans and planning for the future in four primary ways: These include: the plans and purposes of God, wisdom in the proper preparation of men, the necessity of man’s spiritual preparation, and viewing plans properly in light of who God is.
The Holy Scriptures present a picture of a God who maintains control and plans within the cosmos. Men follow suit, in preparation with the necessary qualification that they recognize their relation to the Heavenly Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and trust in God for provision regardless of how plans may go.
What does God say about future?
The Holy Bible gives a lot of insight as it relates to the future and the Lord’s will. He is in total control of what tomorrow brings and He wants us to be prepared spiritually and physically.
Bible Verses about God in control of your future
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
The Lord’s plans for your life have not only been set in motion but they are good things. God’s will is to protect you from harm, to bless you, and give you hope.
This verse is one of many scripture quotations that may provide motivation and encouragement when your plans seem like they are failing and the future looks grim.
“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” Proverbs 16:3 NIV
The Proverbs have much to say on the topic of planning with the proper disposition in mind that God is Lord.
Proverb 16:1-9 speaks to God’s sovereignty and the plans a man may make. For those in union with Christ Jesus, the best way to deal with goal setting is to begin and end with God in mind.
Proverbs 16:3 tells us that when you commit to the Lord, which implies this rolling over of care and responsibility to God, He will establish your plans. This does not mean that your plans will come about as you expect but that the results will be appropriate in accordance with God’s will.
The key application of this text is recognizing that while we can often make plans and finish a work, we tend to dwell on the outcome of that work and project.
Yet, the scriptures tell us to hand over that care and responsibility to God, trusting the Heavenly Father for the appropriate results and outcome.
1 Peter 5:7 is a firm reminder that you should submit your plans and your future to the Lord. It states, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you”.
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21 NIV
While the previous text speaks to our disposition towards God in our own plans, Proverb 19:21 provides us with that necessary guidance that corrects our tendency to believe our plans will come about as expected if we trust deeply enough and pray hard enough.
This text clearly suggests that the results of our plans will be appropriate per God’s will, “it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” and determine the appointed time for plans to be fulfilled.
And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth. Genesis 42:6 NIV
There are other factors at play like freewill and the schemes of the Devil that will influence our plans. However, the will of God remains constant and His plans stand firm regardless of human and other cosmic interferences.
In Genesis chapter forty-two Joseph’s dreams came through eventually even though his brothers did everything in their power to get rid of him and prevent bowing down to him.
Bible verses about why You should be prepared for the future
“So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Matthew 24:44 NIV
The New Testament presents us with the most essential preparation we should have, one of spiritual preparation. Jesus here speaks to his disciples and compels them to be ready to receive eternal life at the time of His second return.
There is an element of uncertainty for the disciples as outlined in verse 42, which is why they must be prepared at all times in keeping watch.
The following lesson from Jesus in verses forty-five through to fifty-one speaks about not being lazy in your work but being ready and properly working with an accurate perspective of the future.
This concept of being spiritually prepared for the final judgment can be surveyed throughout the Gospels and the Epistles.
Matthew 25:13 is a reminder to, “keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour”.
The Lord of host has set the plans of redemption and salvation in place to ensure that our futures may be hopeful and rewarding. That is why He expects us to be ready like a soldier who is equipped for war.
In Ephesians 6:13 Paul likens this spiritual preparation to a battle that requires putting on the armor of God. It states, “therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand”.
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 NIV
Our God of hope has no intention for us to suffer wrath. What He wants is for us to embrace His plan of salvation so that one day in the future we will be able to live together with Him.
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 NIV
It is the will of God that we remain confident even though the future is unknown to us. He wants us to trust that He will fulfill His promises to us. This includes the promises of Christ’s second return which may be found in the opening of John chapter fourteen.
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:25-27 NIV
The word of God says that we should not worry about the future. The whole creation can testify about the steadfast love of the Lord.
If you get to the point where you are anxious about providing for yourself or your family just consider the lilies of the field and the birds. They are well cared for and the Lord cares for you even more.
In verse 34 of the same chapter a very forceful point is made as it relates to how concerned you should be about the future. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
The intention is to plan for the future and trust that God will work things out. God does not want you to be fearful or worry about how your life will unfold. 2 Timothy 1:7 reinforces the point that you should not be fearful about what tomorrow may bring.
It reminds us, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline”.
What does God say about making plans?
When making plans we should seek the counsel of the Bible and others to ensure that we are guided by wisdom and the Lord’s will.
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers, they succeed.” Proverbs 15:22 NIV
Previous verses have established that we should acknowledge the role of God in our plans. This text however, highlights the importance of consulting others for counsel and getting wisdom from them.
While this Proverb falls in a section that speaks of the path of the righteous in relation to the course of the wicked and sluggard, the wisdom found in verse 22 is invaluable.
Preparation requires consideration and counsel and a humility to seek it from many advisers. This Proverb not only tells us there is a necessity for humility, but also about deep consideration over appropriate moves.
In proverbs chapter 16:18 we are encouraged to put pride aside because it may lead to destruction. The King James Version of the verse states, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall”.
In Micah 6:8 we are advised to acquire the trait of humility. “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Simple plans can require fewer advisers, but humility always recognizes the experience of others. Here we learn another valuable lesson from following scriptures and the guidance they offer.
While God is sovereign and ultimately determines the outcome of our plans, we are called to take careful preparation in our lives. As we will see, this applies not only to plans in the world but plans for the future world.
“But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart throughout all generations.” Psalm 33:11 NIV
While above, some verses focused on God’s sovereignty over man’s plans, the Bible paints a picture of God’s will in a broader perspective. Psalm 33 is a hymn of praise to God, the creator who rules all things.
He does all things for his own purposes and has chosen a people out of the world to be his own. In this hymn, the reasons for praise then include the fact that God’s will prevails.
No power in the Heavens or on Earth can overthrow or thwart the will of God. He governs and purposes, with His will always being accomplished.
This is echoed later in the same hymn, “But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”
This sovereignty gives humanity a place for rejoicing, especially when it comes to God’s ultimate plan – the establishment of the Kingdom of God and the redemption of the people who will inhabit that kingdom.
Bible verses about Future success
Future success is dependent on us allowing the Lord to guide and direct us and being confident that we have been called according to His purpose.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” Proverbs 3:5 NIV
Here, the Proverbs provides us with the wisdom to handle a situation wherein our plans do not go as we wish. Proverbs 3:1-12 focus on humility, faith, and submission to God, highlighting “lean not on your own understanding.”
When our plans go array from where we expect them to go, we must “trust in the Lord” and recognize that God’s plans prevail and are appropriate in divine wisdom that surpasses our finite perspective.
Sometimes we plan based on finite knowledge and human understanding. With our limited view we tend to assume but God knows the future and the plans He has for us and that’s why it’s important for us to trust Him as He guides us on the right path.
The verse that follows says we should submit our ways to Him and He will direct our path. We see these same points coming out in Matthew 6:33 where we are told to make the Lord and the things of His kingdom first priority in our lives.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV
Here we find that God’s purposes are accomplished and being worked out, and not only are they being worked out, but they are done so “for the good of those who love him.”
As believers in Christ, we can place our lives, work, and future plans in God’s hands knowing that He is working for our good whatever may come from it. Our ultimate good, of course, will be in the restored Eden.
Bible Verses on strategic planning
The Lord himself is our example when it comes to strategic planning. He is very meticulous and considers every detail of all His plans for us and our salvation.
“He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment – to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.” Ephesians 1:9-10 NIV
After the fall in Eden the Lord put in place a strategic plan to redeem humankind. This picture of God’s grand plan of redemption is found in the long chain of glory in Ephesians 1:1-14.
The ultimate idea is that the plans of the Lord include bringing people into the family of God (v. 5) according to His good pleasure and sovereign will.
In His plans, we have been given forgiveness of sins through the work of Jesus Christ (v. 7), and He has revealed this will to us, which is set forth through Christ Jesus (v. 9). The ultimate end in God’s purpose is “to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.” (v. 10).
While humanity and the earth were brought to corruption, we learn that God’s great and glorious plan is to redeem creation and restore those who are found united in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
The end of all things is pictured in the New Heavens and New Earth, where all heartache, hardship, sin, and wickedness are no more, but instead, we will have personal communion with the triune God.
Revelation 21:4 confirms this when it said, “‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away”.
The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, Revelation 1:1 NIV
The word of God presents its readers with a number of points regarding planning and plans for the future. In the broad scheme of revelation, we find that God is the divine sovereign who determines the outcomes of all plans.
The book of Revelation itself is evidence enough of God’s strategic planning. It works seamlessly with other prophecies in the Bible to explain God’s plan of salvation and how He will restore the world and rid it of sin.
God was careful to reveal His will and plans at the appropriate time through prophets and prophetic books when His people needed it most.
If we intend to reap the rewards of the plan of salvation we need to be informed about the revelations in this book because they explain what will happen in the last days.
Bible verses about planning and budgeting
We should be diligent, use sound judgment, and be prudent in our views on acquiring wealth and riches.
“The plans of the diligent lead to profit, as surely as haste leads to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5 NIV
When the Bible moves to the ground floor and speaks about finances and planning, the wisdom presented is simple. Those who work hard and plan prosper, and those who do not often lead to poverty.
In rare instances sometimes the wise become poor and sometimes the slothful become abundant. Yet, the general wisdom given to followers of God’s word is that the plan of the diligent leads to profit.
This section of Proverbs (20:5-21:8) centers around proper judgment, including a brief discussion on properly handling money. Thus, proper planning and budgeting requires diligent preparation and sound judgment.
We can see such wisdom assumed in the Gospels. While our Lord speaks about counting the cost of being His disciple in the Gospel of Luke, He uses the picture of good judgment and wisdom to describe it.
Luke 14:28 provides counsel saying, “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?”. An incomplete tower is worthless and leaves the hasty without funds.
“Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness.” Proverbs 23:4 NIV
While the plans of the diligent lead to profit, the Proverbs reminds us that there needs to be sound judgment in our pursuit and ends. In this Proverb, we are reminded that being a workaholic is not wise. Verse five of this chapter explains that riches are fleeting.
1 Timothy 6:10 warns us not to be led astray because of a love for wealth and riches. It states, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs”. Be diligent, plan wisely and do not allow riches to cause you to wander away from the faith.
“Yet it [the ant] stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest” Proverbs 6:8 NIV
In Proverbs 6:6-11, we find the sluggard being told to observe the wisdom of the ant who labors diligently. In verses 9-11, we find that the sluggard will find poverty while the ant is wise in storing provisions in preparation and properly working to gather food at the harvest.
While we are to avoid the extreme of being a workaholic, the scriptures call us to be wise in proper preparation and in our hard work.
Compliments to this wisdom of the ant can be found in the notion of diversifying rather than placing all of our eggs in a single basket.
Ecclesiastes 11:2 states, “Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land”. The picture placed together is one of diligent planning with wise investments as a means of backup for the sake of not suffering poverty.
Examples of poor planning in the Bible
Poor planning may have serious consequences on both our physical and eternal lives.
At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish and five were wise. Matthew 25:1-2 NIV
In the parable of the ten virgins, we see how poor planning may have a devastating effect on our future. The five virgins who did not take extra oil with them were inconvenienced because of the delay and were ultimately rejected as guests to the wedding.
When the wedding party finally arrived, they were busy trying to get oil instead of focusing on joining the festivities. When they finally got the oil and tried to enter the wedding they were not welcomed inside.
We should try to emulate the example of the five wise virgins in being prepared for unplanned eventualities.
But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. Matthew 25:18 NIV
Parables are stories that are meant to provide guidance while inspiring us to take the lessons and apply them to our lives.
Three servants received money from the master. Two of them came up with plans to increase what they had while the third servant decided to bury his money.
The third servant feared his master and lacked hope in the future so he resorted to a plan that would not yield any results.
Fear and hopelessness will prevent us from receiving the blessings that the Lord has in store for us. We have to plan, trust God, and hope for the best.
Examples of Good Planning in the Bible
Good planning is not only endorsed by God but includes following His directives and obeying His will.
look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said. Judges 6:37 NIV
When Gideon wanted to prove God for himself, he came up with a plan. His plan was to make sure that he understood the will of God and the purpose the Lord had for him.
Gideon’s plan to use the fleece on the ground to confirm that the Lord was indeed the one who wanted him to save His people worked.
He was assured of his purpose, he later heard a dream that the enemy had, and he also came up with a plan to defeat the Midianite army.
Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, ² and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. ³ But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. Exodus 2:1-3 NIV
In Exodus chapter one we are told about a new king in Egypt that did not know Joseph. He plotted to kill all the baby boys born to the Hebrew women. The midwives feared God so they disregarded the command and authority of pharaoh.
When pharaoh realized his plan didn’t work, he ordered that all the boy babies be thrown in the River Nile.
As a result, Moses’ mother came up with a plan to save her child’s life. Years later we see that this baby who should have drowned in the River Nile was chosen by God to carry out His noble plans and lead His people out of captivity.
Conclusion
Man is called to trust in the Lord for his plans and ventures, yet he is not called to do so in a lazy way or without diligent contemplation. Instead, man is to utilize his faculties, plan well, and remain committed to the reality that God is ultimately sovereign.
Additionally, man’s utmost concern is to understand the purpose of the Lord and see to the proper preparation of his heart for the appearing of the glory of our great God.
