June 11 – Making Wise Plans

Proverbs 16:9

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

SITREP:

Have you ever mapped out a path only to have life reroute you entirely? Planning is wise, but hold your plans loosely. Let God establish your steps, and trust that His way is best—even when it doesn’t look like yours.

This short proverb delivers a powerful principle: God isn’t against your planning, but He wants your surrender. King Solomon wrote this to guide leaders, warriors, and everyday believers toward humility—reminding us that while initiative is good, control is not the goal. We see only the road ahead. God sees the whole map.

Breaking Down the Verse:

“In their hearts humans plan their course…” – You’re wired to strategize, to prepare, to move forward. That’s not wrong. God gave you a mind and a mission. Plan with purpose.

“…but the Lord establishes their steps.” – You might choose the direction, but God chooses the terrain. And sometimes He reroutes for your protection, your growth, or someone else’s breakthrough.

How This Keeps a Combat Veteran on Course:

You know what it’s like to prep for a mission—routes planned, gear packed, team ready—only for command to send down a change in orders at the last second. That’s frustrating. But in war, you trust the intel from above.

Life isn’t all that different:

Maybe you thought you’d be in a different place by now.

Maybe life after service feels off-script, like someone rewrote your next chapter.

Maybe you’re doing all the right things—and the doors still won’t open.

This verse tells you why:
You planned with wisdom. But God is guiding with sovereignty.

This isn’t about defeat—it’s about trusting the One who sees what you don’t.

The detour might be the delivery route for your healing.

The delay might be divine protection.

The new direction might be where the real mission begins.

You weren’t trained to fold when the mission shifted—you were trained to adapt. Spiritually, the same applies. Trust your Commander. He’s not wasting your steps.

ENDEX:

Proverbs 16:9 is your operational mindset for life and faith: plan hard, stay sharp—but hold your course loosely. God is establishing your steps, and His way is never off-target. When the orders change, adjust your pace—not your faith.

AAR:
Are your plans really in God's hands—or just stamped with His name after you've already drawn the route? Proverbs 16:9 lays it out: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” You’ve been in enough operations to know the plan always changes once contact is made. The same’s true spiritually. So here’s the gut check: are you clinging to your version of the mission, or are you flexible enough to follow God's movement when He reroutes you mid-stride? You can plan—but if your pride keeps you from pivoting, you’re not following the Commander. You’re just freelancing.

Letting the Commander Adjust the Map
You’ve sketched out routes, run rehearsals, and still had to shift on the fly when boots hit the dirt. Proverbs 16:9 speaks straight to that reality: your planning has value—but God’s direction is final. For the combat veteran, this verse reframes leadership as responsive submission. You lead. You think ahead. But you hold it all with an open hand. Because the Lord’s steps aren’t just better—they’re sovereign. When He changes your pace, your path, or your objective, it’s not disruption—it’s refinement. Don’t mistake the need to pivot for failure. You’re not in command—you’re under it. Plan with discipline, but march with humility. That’s how warriors stay on course when the map shifts.

Make your voice count—share what you’ve lived.

Share your experiences in the comments below. Your words could encourage someone else walking a similar path.

If you're comfortable, include as much or as little personal detail as you’d like. We suggest:

• Name
• Veteran, Retired, Family Member etc.
• Service Branch
• Years of Service (or Deployment Dates and Locations)

Every story matters—and yours might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.