I usually have my personal devotions with breakfast.  I am an early riser, so my family is still asleep and it is nice quiet time to meet with God and His word while eating my oatmeal, banana, eggs with mustard, and glass of water.

On this particular morning I had taken a vacation day, and though healthy food was on my breakfast menu, vacation was NOT the menu for the day.  A day of street side auto repair was staring me in the face.  I had been struggling with a problem engine vibration on my van that I noticed after a recent repair job at my local mechanic.  I had taken the van back several times for further diagnosis, but without satisfaction.  I was on my own with this one, or so I complained to myself once, before the Lord corrected me.  He reminded me that we are NEVER on our own.

Thankfully I began my day with these verses from Proverbs 16:1-7 (WEB).

1) The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh. 2) All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but Yahweh weighs the motives. 3) Commit your deeds to Yahweh, and your plans shall succeed. 4) Yahweh has made everything for its own end— yes, even the wicked for the day of evil. 5) Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh: they shall certainly not be unpunished. 6) By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil. 7) When a man's ways please Yahweh, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

So the Lord reminded me that I may have plans for the day, but it is his plans alone that will come to pass.  He also reminded me that though I may think my motives are pure, that he sees right through me to my hidden sin.  So I committed the auto repair job to him, whether success or failure.  I thought of my own sin and asked God to keep me far from the judgment to come on the wicked.  And though not my enemy, I did ask the Lord if he could persuade my mechanic to give at least some of my money back.

Well not to bore you with the details, but the Lord helped me repair the van, the vibration is gone, and my mechanic returned a fair amount of my money.  And even though I began the day with a tad of self pity, my daughter encouraged me mid-day with these cheerful words, "Dad isn't it great to be able to work outside on this beautiful fall day?"

And ya know it was... thanks to the Lord!