In 1984, Michael Jordan signed a seven-year contract to play basketball with the Chicago Bulls.

No one could have foreseen the impact that Michael Jordan would have on the game of basketball when he signed his name to that first contract with the Chicago Bulls. Just consider a few of his accomplishments during his career:

• Ten-time All-NBA First Team selection (1986–87 to 1992–93, 1995–96 to 1997–98)
• Selected in 1996 as one of the “50 Greatest Players in NBA History”
• A member of six Chicago Bulls NBA championship teams (1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1997–98)
• Six-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player

The list of Michael Jordan’s accomplishments goes on and on. But did you know that, while growing up, Michael Jordan was continually beaten by his older brother, Larry, in one-on-one pickup games? Or that he was cut from the high school varsity basketball team as a sophomore? Yet, instead of giving up, Jordan used these failures to motivate him to greater achievements, practicing hour after hour on the court. “Whenever I was working out and got tired and figured I ought to stop, I’d close my eyes and see that list in the locker room without my name on it,” Jordan said. He eventually made the team and led it to the state championship.

We all have dreams and plans for our future. And we all can work hard to make those dreams come true. But unless we include God’s plan for us in our endeavors, we are going to miss out on a lot. God alone knows what is best for us. He alone can fulfill his purposes for us. We need to entrust our goals, our plans, and our dreams with him.

What are your dreams? What are your goals and plans for the future? Tell God about them, and as the psalm-writer says, let God “work out his plans for my life.”

The Lord will work out his plans for my life—for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever (Psalm 138:8).

To Do

Write down three goals you have for the future. Now write today’s Bible verse underneath those goals. Talk about your plans with God.

Also on this day

Today is Video Games Day. Play one of your favorite games!

1609—English explorer Henry Hudson sailed down what is now the Hudson River.

1873—The first practical typewriter was sold to customers.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.