A Plan with a Purpose -

One of the most beautiful things you’ll come to understand when you submit your life to Jesus Christ is that God has a plan for your life. Even more beautiful? He’s had that plan all along! Every, single person who has ever been formed in the womb is part of God’s master plan. Does everyone get the opportunity to experience God’s plan for their lives? Sadly, no. Does everyone choose to follow His plan? No. “Known to God are all His works since the beginning of the world,” Luke wrote in Acts 15:18. God backs up His own plans with the fulfillment of His promises, but we all have a choice to make at any given point in time.

There are many people in the Kingdom who struggle with submission to the Lord’s way because they think it will mean giving up something they desperately desire. When, in reality, you could never desire something that is better for yourself than what the Lord has planned! In the short term, it may mean there are things that need to be sacrificed, but if you truly believe God is faithful, then no sacrifice will cost more than a lifetime lived apart from His perfect will.

The Bible is clear that the Lord establishes (prepares, sets in order, directs, confirms) your steps (Psalm 40:2; Psalm 37:23; Proverbs 16:9) if you’re walking in those that He has laid before you. In Jeremiah 29:11, the Lord said, “I know the plans I have for you…” God is fully aware of your desires, hopes, dreams and plans. Are you fully aware of His? At the heart of the matter, seeking God’s plan for your life and all of your decisions is a trust issue.

[Read this next: “Do You Really Trust the Lord?”]

…if you truly believe God is faithful, then no sacrifice will cost more than a lifetime lived apart from His perfect will…

If you’re seeking the Lord’s will for every decision you make and every step you take, you’ll experience the lightened load of not having to work out the details of your life. You’ll simply have to follow the plan! You’re called to “work out your salvation“ (Philippians 2:12) – that’s your relationship with the Lord, which is only fed, nourished and growth through a steady diet of the Word, worship and prayer. Give the Lord permission to direct and establish your steps – every single one – and He will do what He said He would do about the things He has set into motion. When we choose to follow the Lord’s way, He works out the plans and smooths out the paths and moves the mountains, orchestrates the divine appointments. And when we don’t? That burden is on us to work them out.

[Watch this: “Recalculating Route”]

GOD HAS A PLAN for your life, the lives of your children, your marriage, your finances, your home, your career, your relationships, your health, your hopes and dreams and His own Kingdom. Do you know what it is? He wants to tell you!!

Thought for today

If you don’t know what the plan is for your life, start with WORSHIP: “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) The easiest way to walk in the will of God is to do what great people of faith in the Bible have done- ask! Here is what David prayed:

“Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.” (Psalm 25:4-5 NLT)

“… lead me along the path of everlasting life….” (Psalm 139:24)

So many times we think because we prayed a few times that we know “the plan” and when things change, we wonder what God is up to. While God doesn’t change, people do and circumstances do. We all have a choice to make, but God is faithful! The plan for your life is still to bring you a “future and a hope” in all the things that concern your life. Seek Him step by step and don’t move until He’s given you the plan. If you really do trust Him, wait! His plans are backed by His Word and that’s a promise worth standing on!