This is the time of year when people lay out annual plans, announce predictions for the coming year and make New Year's resolutions. In many cases, their plans have already changed, their predictions have proven wrong and their resolutions are already broken-- again.
Planning is good. There is some wisdom in having goals and plans to achieve those goals as long as we understand that the mind of man plans his ways, but the Lord directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9) Predictions, on the other hand, often prove to be foolish. As the late Yogi Berra once said, "It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future." Yogi also warned us that; "The future ain't what it used to be."
The Bible says this about those who, in their pride and arrogance, ignore God's sovereignty and confidently predict the future; Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. (James 4:13-14)
As wise Solomon counsels all of us, we ought to humbly live our lives fearing (respecting) God and keeping His commandments. Because when it is all said and done, it is God who will judge our words, actions, even our secret motives; for God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:14)
I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed year looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:13) Maranatha!