Category Archives: God’s Plan

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December 26, 2013

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Forgiveness, God's Plan, Sorrow, Grief & Regrets

Let Go of the Past if You’re Going to Reach the Goal

I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal, but I continue trying to reach it and to make it mine. Christ wants me to do that, which is the reason he made me his. [Philippians 3:12 (NCV)]

It is wise to remember that, no matter how old we may be, we continue to be a work in progress. Our past, no matter how checkered it may be, should never keep us from a future of service and blessings. God doesn’t care about our past. His concern is not where and how we started our lives; his concern is where and how we finish those lives.

The apostle Paul certainly had a troubled history; he had zealously persecuted the early Christians and was even present when Stephen was martyred. Paul, however, never let his past keep him from moving forward to become the man God wanted him to be. He became the greatest Christian evangelist that ever lived. Let’s not forget, God is never finished with us. What plans does He have for you this upcoming year?

Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not yet reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead, I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to the life above. [Philippians 3:13-14 (NCV)]

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December 15, 2013

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God's Plan, God's Promises

There Were Prophesies

O Bethlehem … you are but a small Judean village, yet you will be the birthplace of my King who is alive from everlasting ages past! … And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God, and his people shall remain there undisturbed, for he will be greatly honored all around the world. He will be our Peace. [Micah 5:2,4-5 (TLB)]

From the time of the exodus around 1440 BC, the Hebrews had been waiting for their promised savior. Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah, and Zechariah all prophesized the coming of a messiah. John the Baptist was making the same prophesy during the time Jesus lived. Yet, what happened? Why didn’t they recognize Jesus when he came? Perhaps it was because they weren’t thinking big enough. Although most of the Jews believed a messiah would arrive and that he would bring a new kingdom, they thought this would simply be a new government for Israel that was not under the rule of Rome. God had much bigger plans for his people. Thank you God, for thinking big and beyond the here and now. The promised Messiah freed us from more than bondage to Rome; He freed us from our bondage to sin. The promised Messiah did, indeed, bring us a new kingdom: the kingdom of God!

“Comfort, yes, comfort my people,” says your God. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and tell her that her sad days are gone. Her sins are pardoned, and I have punished her in full for all her sins.” Listen! I hear the voice of someone shouting, “Make a road for the Lord through the wilderness; make him a straight, smooth road through the desert. Fill the valleys; level the hills; straighten out the crooked paths, and smooth off the rough spots in the road. The glory of the Lord will be seen by all mankind together.” The Lord has spoken—it shall be. [Isaiah 40:1-5 (TLB)]

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December 13, 2013

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God's Plan, Obedience, Sorrow, Grief & Regrets, Temptation & Sin

Run For Your Life

When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the Lord was merciful. When they were safely out of the city, one of the angels ordered, “Run for your lives! And don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!” … But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt. [Genesis 19:16-17, 26 (NLT)]

Sodom was to be destroyed. Lot warned his sons-in-law who laughed and ignored him. Even Lot was tentative about leaving until the angels pulled him away. Lot finally took his wife and daughters and fled the doomed city. Unfortunately, Lot’s wife just had to take one last look back and she, too, was destroyed.

We may not live in Sodom, but we might be mired in things that can destroy us: unhealthy lifestyles, destructive habits, harmful relationships, dead-end jobs, or deepening depression. God will provide a means of escape but we are the ones who will have to take the journey. It could take professional help or simply some deep soul-searching but there may be changes we must make or we, too, will be destroyed. Being willing to make a change is not easy, but it is often necessary for our salvation. Let’s not be like Lot’s sons-in-law and ignore God’s warning or like Lot’s wife who clung to her past. Our past must never keep us from the beautiful future God has planned for us.

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. [Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)]

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November 16, 2013

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God's Plan, Trusting God

Time to Get Started

But there are some things that you cannot be sure of. You must take a chance. If you wait for perfect weather, you will never plant your seeds. If you are afraid that every cloud will bring rain, you will never harvest your crops. [Ecclesiastes 11:4 (ERV)]

Lord, what is the plan for today? Has my fear of failure kept me from starting your work? Do I delay because the conditions aren’t perfect? Yet, is there ever an ideal time for anything? Thank you for reminding me that less than perfect progress is far better than no progress at all! Replace my fear with faith and my procrastination with action. Please give me the confidence that you will provide whatever it is I need to do your work today.

…Who waits until circumstances completely favor his undertaking, will never accomplish anything. [Martin Luther]

 

 Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. [James Bryant Conant]

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October 31, 2013

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Fruit of the Spirit, God's Plan, Spiritual Gifts, Trusting God

So We Can Bear Fruit

2013-10-31Then Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father takes care of the vineyard. He removes every one of my branches that doesn’t produce fruit. He also prunes every branch that does produce fruit to make it produce more fruit. [John 15:1-2 (GW)]

Pruning is good for plants: it encourages new growth; removes damaged, dead or diseased branches; shapes the plant; and encourages it to blossom and bear fruit. I’m not sure the plant appreciates it when the gardener snips off its branches. An author doesn’t enjoy it when an editor removes words or whole passages from his work. If a piece of wood could speak, it would probably complain as it is sanded; yet the carpenter sands it to remove the rough edges. Pruning, editing, and sanding are all done to make the final product better.

God prunes us by removing those things from our lives that hinder our growth and we rarely enjoy this pruning process. Like a good gardener, however, God shapes us so that we, too, will bear fruit, the fruit of the spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

You didn’t choose me, but I chose you. I have appointed you to go, to produce fruit that will last, and to ask the Father in my name to give you whatever you ask for. [John 15:16 (GW)]