...about plans.

…about plans.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3

These two Bible verses are, without a doubt, among my favorites. It’s funny that of all the verses, and of all the subjects that are covered in the written Word, two of my favorites have to do with plans.

But that’s where the similarities end. You see, the book of Jeremiah reveals God’s plans for us, whereas Proverbs addresses our plans.

“…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

What a powerful statement this is. It reveals God’s intentions for me. For you. For all of us. When we can truly wrap our minds around this message that’s meant for us, and believe in it, our faith in God changes. Our relationship with Him changes. And our lives change.

Plans

One of my Dad’s favorite sayings was “Live for today.” He would always say that, especially if he and my Mom, or he and I, were in a heated exchange about life, finances, personal challenges, or anything beyond that moment in time. I think that he believed in what he was saying; to a degree. But I also think that he used it as a cop-out, as if to say “Okay, I’ve made my proclamation, so that’s the end of this discussion. Let’s move on to something else.” To be honest with you, it used to irritate me to no end. You can’t just end a discussion by uttering some self-proclaimed nugget of wisdom and then move on the next topic. Well, I guess you can, because he did it all the time, and got away with it!

Still, it bothered me, because my Dad did indeed live for today, but he also planned for tomorrow. And don’t we all? It’s why we have all kinds of insurance, and retirement accounts, and day planners. We plan for tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that. It’s part of our nature to do so. In fact, it’s that planning that gives birth to hope. Have you ever noticed that on this site, The Seed of Hope is followed by A Gift for Tomorrow?

It’s easy for us to believe that God has the perfect plan for us when things are good. If we’re blessed with good health, and prosperity, and good times, we know that God’s plan for us is just right! And we trust in Him completely.

It’s when the worm turns, or the wind changes direction, or things head south, that we begin to question not only God’s plan for us, but also His love. We want to cry out “How can You love me God, and let this happen to me?”

FAITH

I think the reason for the verse from Jeremiah being so meaningful to me is that when I accepted it as the truth, my faith in God hit a new level. I feel that, for me anyway, the absolute belief that God has my best interest and welfare in mind all the time was a HUGE turning point for me. It allowed me to change the way that I live my life.

I no longer walk in fear.

Strong statement. True statement. You see, I believe, without a doubt, that God has the perfect plan for me.

Look, since I was born again four years ago, and committed my life to Christ, life hasn’t always been a bed of roses. Life, in and of itself, isn’t easy. And as you may have figured out already, life as a Christian may be even harder.

But I have to tell you, even with the rough stuff, God’s plan for me has been so much better than any plan that I may have devised for myself. I couldn’t have imagined the changes that have taken place in and around me, and the blessings that would come with those changes.

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Okay, so like you, I plan for tomorrow. But what are my real plans?

Well, I plan on being the best that I can be in everything that I do. I plan on being as good a Christian as I can possibly be. I plan on dedicating every day of my life to God. I plan on being, not just a light, but a beacon of light that shines for Him. I plan on running through every door that He opens for me to reach others. I plan on sharing the good news of God, and what He’s done in my life, with all who will give me an ear.

And when my time on this earth is up, and it’s time for me to stand before my Father, I plan on hearing Him say,

“Well done, good and faithful servant!…Come and share your master’s happiness!” Matthew 25:21

See you next week!