“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
Meditation: God is not a distant, uninvolved Creator. We sometimes forget that He is in control and lose sight of the fact that He does have a plan for us. We don’t always see the plan and often become too fixated on our problems or situation. We want to know what we can do to get out of the situation and fix the problems, when there are times that the Lord simply wants us to remain focused on Him. His plans are for good, not evil. The problem is that the evil of the world and our own sinful selves tend to mess our lives up. We live life our own way and not according God’s plan and then wonder why it is such a mess. Or perhaps illness or a tragedy strikes and we wonder where God is in it. He has not left and is always available when we call on Him.
The hope of salvation and eternal life in Heaven with God is a wonderful promise and something great to look forward to, but that is not all the Lord has for His children. His promise of a full, abundant life is for the present and in spite of our circumstances. Some of the wonderful writings of Christianity come from those have been imprisoned for their faith, knowing that they were going to die. It may not seem like there was much prosperity in the lives of these committed Christians, but their writings give a clear picture that there is something more to life than freedom, possessions or even health. God’s plan may not include what we call prosperity, but it will be good if we remain focused on Him. Perhaps His plan is to use us to plant the seeds of faith in those He has put into our life or even to bring them into the Kingdom. It is awesome to be used by God for His purposes. We can’t do this when we are focused on our own problems and don’t look at the big picture.
Challenge: Are you focused on your problems or situation or are you focused on the God who is bigger than all of it? Are you available to be used by the Lord, right where you are now? Will you allow Him to fulfill His plan and purpose in your life? Cling to the Lord in any trial you may be in or any problems you may face. Be open to what the Lord might desire to do through you to touch the lives of others even as you experience your own problems.
Thought for the Day: Lord, help me to remain focused on You and fulfill the plan you have for me.
Chris Garner
Used by permission – Fortified Marriages.