Tag: Purpose

Plan A, Plan B

Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

If you are a parent, you know what it is like to make plans for your children only to see them thwarted by choices they make. They have a free-will. You can raise them right, pray for them and direct them down the right path but ultimately it is up to them to walk on the straight and narrow.

That is how it is for God as well.  He is our heavenly father and has plans for us. We have a free will and can easily walk our own path outside of God’s purpose for us if we are not seeking God’s advice and direction in all that we do.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “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.”  It doesn’t necessarily mean your plans for tomorrow but rather plans for your purpose while you are here on this earth.  We know His plans are good because God is good. That is his character. He does not want bad things to happen to us. But just as you cannot stop bad things from happening to your children, God does not stop bad things from happening to us when we make bad choices.

Even when you make a bad choice, remember, Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Turn back to the Lord after a mistake and ask him for forgiveness and direction. His promise to us is found in Psalm 33:11, “But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”

So, seek the Lord and ask for his guidance in all that you do so that the Lord’s purpose for your life can prevail.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your loving and forgiving heart. Forgive me when I make mistakes and direct me in your purpose for my life. Amen.

Don’t Compare!

Romans 12:6 “In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.”

In 2019 I attended a course at my church called W.I.L.D. which stands for Women in Leadership Development. It was absolutely amazing and it is what inspired me to begin writing these weekly devotionals. I learned so much in that course and I am very grateful that God led me to it. Fast forward to 2022 and I’ve been asked to come back and be a table leader for W.I.L.D. Now it’s been a minute since I attended the classes, and we had all that crazy of COVID stuff in between then and now so I was tentatively excited to be asked and a little nervous about what being a table leader would entail. I mean, I remember my table leader from when I took the course (she was the one who asked me to be a table leader this year) but I don’t really know or remember what all she did for us.

Guess what? A table leader gets to get up in front of the class and present part of the lessons. Honestly, I don’t remember that but okay, I’m game. I mean I was in sales for years and I’ve given hundreds of presentations. But…I’ve never given a presentation at church (other than when I presented my devotional idea to my W.I.L.D. classmates). So, at this point I’m a little nervous. The course started last week and the speakers at the first class were A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. I mean really really good. So now I’m a lot nervous and I said so to the coordinator of W.I.L.D. after that first class. She said something to the effect of, “No ma’am. No comparisons. We do not do that here.”

She is so right. God gave each of us different gifts and talents and each of those gifts are important to the body of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul compares the individuals in the body of Christ to different parts of the body. Even though each part serves a different purpose and has a different function, all are important to the whole and are needed for the body to function properly. It is the same with our gifts and talents; they are all different but each one serves a purpose.

Romans 12:6 says, “In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.” God has given me the gift of writing, storytelling, and encouragement. So I will use those gifts to help me prepare for my turn to speak to the class and then the Holy Spirit will do the rest. No comparisons to last week!

Are you comparing yourself to others? Did you know that you are exactly who God made you to be and he made you with a purpose? You are exactly where you are supposed to be so that God can use your gifts and talents for HIS purpose…and so am I.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the many gifts and talents you have given to us. Please guide us to use those talents for your purpose and to your glory and honor. Amen.

Way Maker

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

There is a worship song we sang at church last week called “Way Maker”.  A few lines of the song say “Even when I don’t see it, he’s working.  Even when I don’t feel it, he’s working.  He never stops, he never stops working.”  This song has been on my heart all week.  I knew I wanted to write about it, but I wasn’t sure exactly how.  Then God gave me this Bible verse and it all came together. 

God has a plan and His plan is that everyone comes to know Christ Jesus.  So, you and I, as Christians, go about our everyday life but behind the scenes, the Holy Spirit is working on people.  He is working, even when you don’t see it.  He is working, even when you don’t feel it.  He is working on your neighbor.  The neighbor that doesn’t mow his lawn and leaves his trash cans out two days too long.  He is working on the funny co-worker that sits across the office from you.  He is working on the total stranger that rides the same train to work as you do.  He is working on your brother.  He never stops working and you are part of his plan.  He is going to use you, because you have been called according to his purpose.

If you are a Christian, the Bible says that ALL THINGS that have happened to you will be used by God for good.  Not just isolated incidents, ALL THINGS.  But that doesn’t mean that everything that happens to you will be good.  The pain of loss, the sorrow of depression and the sting of rejection can be used for good too.  Because you have experienced those things yourself, you can recognize them in the friends, family, co-workers and strangers you encounter every day. 

Then comes the cool part, the Holy Spirit will do what he does best and put that person in your path.  All you have to do is be aware of the people around you.  Look up.  Smile.  Say hello.  Have a conversation and let the love of Jesus shine out of you.  You may be the only Jesus that person sees today.  Then when the time is right and that person is ready, invite them to your church.  Most people that have never been to a church say they have never been invited to church.  So, let’s get that obstacle out of the way.  Invite them.  Then let the Holy Spirit do the rest.

Lord, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to help me with your plan.  Please open my eyes to what the Holy Spirit is doing in the people that are all around me every day so that I can be the physical hands and feet of Jesus on earth.  Amen