from Gary Hamrick
... Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Chapel
for Thu 07/02/2026

... Today, ask not merely for God to bless your plans, but for the grace to recognize and embrace His.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV (devotion translation)

Today’s Scripture reminds us that true wisdom begins with yielding our plans to the Lord.

As David’s life drew to a close, there was uncertainty about who would succeed him as king. Adonijah assumed that position belonged to him and acted according to his own ambition. Rather than seeking God’s will, he promoted himself and gathered supporters in an effort to establish his own kingdom. Yet God had already chosen Solomon for that role. The Lord’s purposes were not determined by human ambition but by His sovereign plan.

This passage reminds us that it is possible to pursue good opportunities while still missing God’s direction. Our desires, abilities, and circumstances must always be brought before the Lord in humble submission. The safest place for every believer is not where personal ambition leads, but where God’s will has already gone before us.

Scripture consistently teaches that the Lord directs the steps of those who trust Him. When we seek His wisdom through His Word and prayer, we learn to recognize that His plans are always wiser than our own. Even when His direction differs from our expectations, His purposes are rooted in perfect knowledge and unfailing love.

Jesus Himself demonstrated complete submission to the Father’s will. He did not seek His own glory but faithfully accomplished the work His Father had given Him. As His followers, we are called to walk with the same humble obedience, trusting that God’s assignments are always better than the ambitions we create for ourselves.

Today, ask not merely for God to bless your plans, but for the grace to recognize and embrace His.

Father, teach me to seek Your will above my own desires. Give me a humble heart that trusts Your wisdom and gladly follows where You lead. May my life honor Christ through faithful obedience. Amen.

• Psalms 37:5 ↗ - Commit Your Way to the Lord—Entrust your plans to God and trust Him to lead.
• Jeremiah 29:11 ↗ - God’s Plans for His People—The Lord’s purposes are good and filled with hope for those who trust Him.
• James 4:13-15 ↗ - Submit Your Plans to God’s Will—Humbly acknowledge the Lord in every plan and purpose.
• Psalms 32:8 ↗ - The Lord’s Guidance—God promises to instruct and direct those who trust Him.
• Isaiah 55:8-9 ↗ - God’s Ways Are Higher—His wisdom and purposes are far greater than our own.
• Luke 22:42 ↗ - Not My Will, but Yours—Jesus modeled complete submission to the Father’s will.
• John 6:38 ↗ - Jesus Came to Do the Father’s Will—Christ’s mission was marked by complete obedience to the Father’s purpose.

The Lord Establishes Solomon

• 1 Kings 1:5-10 ↗ - Adonijah Exalts Himself—As David grows old, Adonijah declares himself king, gathers chariots, supporters, and influential leaders (including Joab and Abiathar), but does so without seeking the Lord or involving David.
• 1 Kings 1:11-27 ↗ - Nathan and Bathsheba Appeal to David—Nathan reminds Bathsheba of David’s promise that Solomon would succeed him. Together they inform the aging king of Adonijah’s actions.
• 1 Kings 1:28-40 ↗ - David Publicly Appoints Solomon—David reaffirms God’s choice by ordering that Solomon be anointed king by Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet. Solomon is publicly proclaimed king, and the people rejoice.
• 1 Kings 1:41-53 ↗ - Adonijah’s Plot Fails—Adonijah’s supporters disperse when they hear Solomon has been crowned. Adonijah seeks mercy, and Solomon spares his life on the condition that he proves himself worthy.
• 1 Kings 2:12 ↗ - Solomon’s Kingdom Is Established
• 1 Chronicles 22:8-10 ↗ - God Chooses Solomon—God tells David that Solomon will build the temple and that He has chosen Solomon to reign over Israel.
• 1 Chronicles 28:4-7 ↗ - David Publicly Declares God’s Choice—David testifies before Israel’s leaders that the Lord specifically chose Solomon to succeed him and establish the kingdom.