Proverbs 16:3

Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.

The Hebrew meaning of the word “commit” is “to roll” – think of rolling a very large stone over to cover a hole or opening. The idea is that of completely giving something – our actions – over to God in complete dependence upon Him. The original context of this phrase also includes the thought that we commit our work to the Lord “in order that” our plans will succeed. The big question we need to ask, then, is this:

Are my actions/plans something that I know the Lord can bless?

Would you commit your plan to cheat on your taxes to the Lord for his approval? How about your plan to gossip about someone who has hurt you? What about your plan to be a little flirtatious with that co-worker? I think most of us know when our actions or plans are something that God might bless…or outright rebuke us for. We need to get that litmus test out of the way before we can apply today’s verse.

It is important to remember that most Proverbs in the bible are not promises, but rather, general principles. In other words, we can generally expect God to bless our work when we operate according to His ways in dependence upon Him. However, this does not mean we will never lose a job or have trouble in our work. Instead, we can expect God to fulfill His promise of Romans 8:28—“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

When we commit our actions to the Lord, He will bless our efforts according to His perfect will and perfect timing in ways that sometimes are easily recognized…but sometimes in ways beyond our understanding. We should serve the Lord faithfully and then leave the results to Him. Though we will still face times of trials and disappointments, we can trust that God is working for His ultimate good—and ours—through our efforts to please Him in our daily plans and actions.