Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- August 31, 2013
“‘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).
God’s plan is what is best. It is a good plan. It may not seem like a good plan right now, but God’s plan is good. This apparent contradiction is where it gets confusing. A messy life is not always a fun life. Currently you may be experiencing heartache and hard times. His plan does not seem good in your current circumstance, but God is still good.
Perhaps your spouse has been unfaithful. God’s plan seems to have taken a detour down a road of disappointment. You lost your home. God’s plan seems wrong. You were asked to resign. God’s plan does not seem fair. Your health is withering away. God’s plan seems premature with its invitation for your homecoming. Every step you take, every choice you make, and every place you go seem to lead toward more confusion and chaos.
So how can God’s plan be good, prosperous, and not harmful? This is a fair question. To answer this question accurately and fairly, we need to consider God’s long-term plan. To walk wisely today requires a reminder of hope tomorrow. It is our future hope with God that inspires us to live for Him today. Wherever Jesus is, there hope resides. When we have Jesus, we have hope. Hope is heaven’s righteous rope that lifts us out of our despair.
“Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for” (Job 6:8).
Therefore, you can look forward to a better day. But do not miss what God is teaching you today. Hope for tomorrow does not preclude learning from the Lord today. This is all a part of God’s big plan. In the big scheme of God’s plan, there is suffering. Your suffering may even last a lifetime, but this does not cancel out the goodness of God’s plan. Suffering is our springboard into the depths of God’s love and grace.
“Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:9).
Current challenges are preparation for His prosperity, His hope, and His future for you. On the other hand, you may be living large right now. Life looks good. God feels good. His plans seem to be rolling out flawlessly. Use this time to go deeper with Him, because the realities of His plan for you go much deeper than a surface, spiritual sentimentality.
His plan is robust and challenging. You can acquiesce to a plan of lesser consequence and miss His best. Or you can trust the Lord and follow hard after Him, even when His plan seems to have gone awry. Indeed, this is not your home. You are on assignment from heaven; so explore and enjoy His eternal exit plan. It is full of prosperity, hope, and a future. You can trust God’s providential plan works out for the purpose of His will.
“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will” (Ephesians 1:11).
Prayer: Is His plan what is best for me? Am I aligned with the Almighty’s plan for my life?
Related Readings: Proverbs 21:30; Isaiah 14:24; 2 Corinthians 1:17; Hebrews 11:40
Taken from the August 31st reading in the 365-day devotional book, “Seeking Daily the Heart of God” volume 2… http://bit.ly/Tv6y9a
Post/Tweet: To walk wisely today requires a reminder of hope tomorrow. #God’splan
Blessed by these readings?: pray about giving a donation, click… http://bit.ly/KArLE5
© 2013 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved.
Wisdom Hunters Resources / A registered 501 c3 ministry
info@mail.wisdomhuntersdevotional.com / www.wisdomhunters.com
Comments are closed.
I have that exact situation in my life at this time. First at work, which I enjoy, pressures of one, doing multi-tasks and the supervisor finds the exception not the exceptional. My husband working out of town, family situations in crisis, grandchild in the hosptial, widowed father, etc…. But I love the comment “We are on assignment’ as Christ was who endured the horrific, can we not endure what little (in comparison) comes our way? I have forgotten why I am here and WHO am I… in Him. Thank you Lord for your perspective from Heaven. You truly have the better view!!
Really good advice.
Dear Lucas~
Thank you for taking the time out to contact us with your encouraging words! We always love to hear from our fellow wisdom hunters. We are thankful you were blessed by the devotional, “God’s Plan”.
Blessings to you and yours.
Gwynne
“Trust in the Lord with all of your heart
and lean not on your own understanding.
Acknowledge Him in all of your ways and
He will set your paths straight”.
Proverbs 3:5-6