A New Year, a new plan, a new beginning, or is it? Are we supposed to change our plan every year? Or, does God already have a plan for each of us? Would it be better to find out what God’s plan for us is and work each year on the process of transforming our lives to the completion His plan?
Jer 1:5, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Sounds like God created a plan for our lives, before He even created us? We will only choose to follow Him if we hear His voice calling us, Jn 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” and, we will not hear His voice if we do not believe He exists, Heb 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” It begins with our belief.
He has planned something good for us, Jer 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” He gives us His grace and calls us to help Him complete His plan, 2 Tim 1:9, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” His plan includes us and brings Him good pleasure, Phil 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
Ps 37:5, “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” When we commit to following His plan, He guides us to its completion, Prov 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” He will always lead us to the best path, Is 48:17, “Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.”
Jesus told us He will light our path, Jn 8:12, “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” He has been telling us this for thousands of years, Ps 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” When we learn to listen to His still small voice, He guides our way, Is 30:21, “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”
Prov 14:12, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” When we think our way is better than God’s plan for our lives we go astray, as all of us have at some point in our lives, Is 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Many of us have separated ourselves from God, His plan for us, and the sacrifice He made for us. But, God calls us to seek Him and His righteousness, Matt 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” He knows we will be transformed when we put Him first, this is the very essence of love, Rom 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” We have a choice, we could be reconciled to this world, or to God, 2 Cor 5:20, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
1 Pet 4:10, “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” Each of us has been given a gift we are to use to help complete God’s plan, when we wait on the Lord’s timing and keep His way, we will see the good ending He has planned for us, Ps 37:34, “Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.”
Phil 4:7, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” God’s peace is our reward for choosing to follow God’s plan for our lives.
Comments, opposing opinions and suggestions for future topics are all welcome at bill@reasoningwithgod.com.