GUEST POST: Discovering God's Dream

This weekend thirty ladies from our church and 8 from another congregation are going to the Extraordinary Women Conference at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL. My wife, Terri, and the FBC Ministry Assistant, Susanne, have done an incredible job planning the trip. My wife wrote the following devotion for the ladies that are going on the trip. I thought it was meaningful for men and women. So, I wanted to share this devotion with you.

“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

Plans…house plans, weekend plans, vacation plans, family plans, work plans, game plans… you get the picture. In our society today, plans make up a large part of our lifestyle. If we don’t have a plan our busy lives would be in total chaos. (Sometimes even with a plan life can be chaos.) Children’s schedules, plus parent schedules, plus work and school, plus church, plus unexpected interruptions and events call for someone to take the reins (and the calendar) and bring order to our lives.

Without a plan we take huge risks that “everything will just work out.” Usually when we have no plan, we end up frustrated, confused and tired. God knew us before we were born (Read Ps. 139:13-16 here). He knew we would need some help with the plans. So, in His sovereignty, He drew up the plans.

What He tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 is that He knows the plans. The word ‘know’ means in the Hebrew, “to know by experience, to perceive, to discriminate, to discern”. Therefore, I can trust that God is in control. He also tells us clearly what kinds of plans they are. They are great plans because He has created them, plans for our very best. They are plans of hope. God does not want what we want for our lives. He wants better than we can ever hope or dream. Does this mean we will never have sickness, hurt, difficulty, loss, and grief? Of course not! He says His plans are for a HOPE and a FUTURE. In other words, we get our cake and get to eat it too!

Hope is for now, here on earth, for the times things get tough. Trust in God that He will do what He says He will do! Future is for…well, the future. Here’s a sneak peak for the future…WE WIN! Our future is secured in Heaven, prepaid by Jesus Christ Himself with His blood, shed freely on the cross for us. Our debts are paid off ahead of time, in order that we have a future. It is not uncertain or unclear. Our future is planned for by God Himself…eternity with HIM in Heaven.

When you are in a place in life where your plans are not going as you think they should, remember God KNOWS the PLANS HE HAS FOR YOU! Turn to Him. You can trust Him because His thoughts are not our thoughts, neither His ways our ways (Isaiah 55:8). God’s plans and dreams for us here on earth can be discovered and discerned by seeking Him in His Word, spending time with Him in prayer. He is the Master architect. His plans are perfect, always on time, just the right fit and will always line up with His word.

Write a prayer thanking God that He knows the plans He has for you. Ask Him to help you trust Him with the plans. Make a list of YOUR PLANS. Check to determine if they line up with HIS plans. Seek His guidance, direction and wisdom. The principals and precepts of Scripture will never lead us astray when we are seeking His plans. Thank Him for the original plan that included you,(the free gift of salvation) and eternity with Him. You may need a plan for today, tomorrow or the future. You can rest assured that His plans are never illusive, confusing or harmful. Plan from this moment forward to trust Him, serve Him, honor Him and love Him.
He KNOWS THE PLANS!