Gods Perfect Plan
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 10:05 pm
Jeremiah 29:11 I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out Âplans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
I don't understand: why doesn't God just TELL me His plan for my life?
Ever hear somebody say that? Was it YOU saying that? You're not alone. We've all experienced that same frustration when it's time to make a difficult decision. We pray (a little bit) for God to give us guidance and we start looking around for burning bushes. Surely on a matter this important God must want to give us direction. Why doesn't He just tell us what He wants? But how can I follow God's plan if I don't know what it is? The Scriptures reveal that when God designed a plan for life, he used careful and loving advanced planning. In Jeremiah 1:5 Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: God has a personal interest in each of our lives and it gives God great joy when we seek His will and when we obey and follow the plan He has designed for us. No one ever gets down to serious business about seeking God's will until he is thoroughly convinced that such a plan exists! Once you are convinced such a plan exists, the excitement begins. The Bible teaches that God wants us to know His will for our life! (Psalms. 32:8, I the Lord will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.) God's plan for our life is not some mystery that he tries to hide from us! He's not making it difficult for us to discover. It is not a puzzle to figure out where He is trying to trick us! The born again believer who is SERIOUS about finding God's plan for his life will find it if he follows the Bible's guidelines for finding such.. Some would argue that God has no special plan for each of us, but rather He lets us choose whatever path we will, and He will bless that if we serve Him. I believe the above is somewhat true. God will bless us in whatever course of life we choose as long as we're trying to serve Him. However, to say God doesn't have a FIRST CHOICE on major areas of our life just doesn't seem to line up with Scripture. Otherwise the Bible would not say over and over that God GUIDES US, ORDERS OUR STEPS, LEADS US by His still small voice of the Holy Spirit. The Bible specifically says God does have a will or plan for our life and we are to UNDERSTAND or discover what that PERFECT will is. (Eph 5:17 - Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is.)
So, how do we know what God's will or plan for our life is. The Bible is the written will of God, and tells us that His will is for all to be saved, He wants us to have an intimate relationship with him, and for us to be disciples of Christ.
In Psalms 119:105 we see that Gods word guides us (Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.) The lamp that the Psalmist is talking about is only bright enough for the person holding it to see his or hers next step. God never reveals our entire life to us. He leads and guides us step by step. What about those things not found in the Bible, such as who to marry, what kind of job to work at, which car to buy or what to have for supper, we need to know God's unknown will, or that which is not written in the Bible. God promises to give us wisdom if we just ask Him in prayer, believing that He will give it. Sometimes we need to just ask God to give us wisdom to discern His will. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him
I don't understand: why doesn't God just TELL me His plan for my life?
Ever hear somebody say that? Was it YOU saying that? You're not alone. We've all experienced that same frustration when it's time to make a difficult decision. We pray (a little bit) for God to give us guidance and we start looking around for burning bushes. Surely on a matter this important God must want to give us direction. Why doesn't He just tell us what He wants? But how can I follow God's plan if I don't know what it is? The Scriptures reveal that when God designed a plan for life, he used careful and loving advanced planning. In Jeremiah 1:5 Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: God has a personal interest in each of our lives and it gives God great joy when we seek His will and when we obey and follow the plan He has designed for us. No one ever gets down to serious business about seeking God's will until he is thoroughly convinced that such a plan exists! Once you are convinced such a plan exists, the excitement begins. The Bible teaches that God wants us to know His will for our life! (Psalms. 32:8, I the Lord will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.) God's plan for our life is not some mystery that he tries to hide from us! He's not making it difficult for us to discover. It is not a puzzle to figure out where He is trying to trick us! The born again believer who is SERIOUS about finding God's plan for his life will find it if he follows the Bible's guidelines for finding such.. Some would argue that God has no special plan for each of us, but rather He lets us choose whatever path we will, and He will bless that if we serve Him. I believe the above is somewhat true. God will bless us in whatever course of life we choose as long as we're trying to serve Him. However, to say God doesn't have a FIRST CHOICE on major areas of our life just doesn't seem to line up with Scripture. Otherwise the Bible would not say over and over that God GUIDES US, ORDERS OUR STEPS, LEADS US by His still small voice of the Holy Spirit. The Bible specifically says God does have a will or plan for our life and we are to UNDERSTAND or discover what that PERFECT will is. (Eph 5:17 - Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is.)
So, how do we know what God's will or plan for our life is. The Bible is the written will of God, and tells us that His will is for all to be saved, He wants us to have an intimate relationship with him, and for us to be disciples of Christ.
In Psalms 119:105 we see that Gods word guides us (Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.) The lamp that the Psalmist is talking about is only bright enough for the person holding it to see his or hers next step. God never reveals our entire life to us. He leads and guides us step by step. What about those things not found in the Bible, such as who to marry, what kind of job to work at, which car to buy or what to have for supper, we need to know God's unknown will, or that which is not written in the Bible. God promises to give us wisdom if we just ask Him in prayer, believing that He will give it. Sometimes we need to just ask God to give us wisdom to discern His will. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him