Proverbs 16:1-3

Proverbs Chapter 16 [1] The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. [2] All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit. [3] Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established. (English Standard Version)

Let's look at each verse separately and then see what they tell us when wrapped together.

1. We tend to make a lot of plans for our lives, some good, some not so good. We make short-term plans (what's for dinner?), and we make long-term plans (where will I live?). People will go to great lengths to ensure that their plans are the “right” ones, or maybe the “best” ones, but God always has the last word as to what is right or best. It's not that our plans are wrong when they don't go through, just that His are better. The Bible actually tells us not to brag about what we would do in the future because we have no idea what the future holds (James 4:13-14). Only God knows for sure what will happen in the future, and it will happen according to His will. That is a point to hold onto until later.
2. When we mere humans make our plans, or take any course of action, we are generally convinced of the correctness of our actions. The motives which drive us will always seem to be the best ones in our own eyes, even when doing the wrong thing. A person can so delude themselves that they even forget that there is a right or wrong to the situation. It's simply about what we want and we will sell ourselves on the purity of our motives until we actually believe that what we want is the right thing to do. Unfortunately, verse two says that God can judge what is truly on our hearts. He knows our innermost selves even when we have completely obscured them from view. Even when I have forgotten my original, selfish motive, God knows what it is. No matter how convinced I am of how honorable I am behaving, God knows why I am doing it, regardless of outward appearances. So, no matter what my actions look like on the outside, God knows the real reason that I'm doing them.
3. If our efforts are truly aimed towards pleasing the Lord, our plans will become successful. This begins to happen in our lives in two ways. First, God honors those who honor Him (Psalm 84:11). This doesn't mean that our obedience turns God into a giant, cosmic vending machine ready to pass out wishes to the faithful. No. In fact, that approach is not Biblical because it takes the focus off of God and puts it on my wants and desires. As long as I focus on me I am not focused on Him. But when I do come to a place of committing all that I do to the Lord he will make the work that I do easier to accomplish. Remember, He sees into our hearts; we can not just say that we are doing it for Him, we have to be doing it for Him. When this happens we begin to see obstacles melt away. The second way that our plans become successful is that God changes our way of thinking to be more like His (Romans 12:2). Through prayer and meditating on God's word we begin to conform to His way of thinking. As this happens we see a change in our own wants and desires, and that change leads to a change in our actions. When our actions are in line with God's desires will He inhibit them? Usually not. There is an issue of our timing versus His timing; but, generally speaking, when our actions are in accordance with His will they will be successful actions.

So, what does this men for us as we continue our time on Earth? Do we stop making plans and sit on the floor with our eyes closed waiting on “a word from the Lord”? I don't think so. We still have lives to live and lives to touch. Instead, let's spend time praying about how we should be living and what we should be doing. Also, we need to examine our actions and motives. Are they in line with what God is showing us (or has shown us, don't forget past lessons)? Are we doing what we do for the right reasons or simply to make ourselves look or feel better? The most important thing may be to understand that when things don't work out the way you want them to, it does not mean that God is punishing you. He just wants something better for you (or someone else).

When we are focused on what God desires we will realize that a setback from our perspective is nothing more than a change in direction from His.