Tag: trust

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Who is “You”?

Jeremiah 29:11, “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.”

This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible because it gives me hope. I think of it often whenever things are not going well. I quote it often to friends who are struggling. You see it on coffee mugs, posters, and t-shirts. But am I using it out of context? Sometimes we get so used to thinking one way that it never dawns on us that our thinking may be skewed.

Does the Bible say God has a plan for you as an individual or for His people? Does God’s plan for His people include a plan for each individual? Is each of us gifted in a certain way to help achieve His plan for all of His people? If God has a plan for everyone, then it would seem that everyone has to either opt in or out of that plan.

CONTEXT

What is the context of this passage? God was talking to the nation of Israel through the prophet Jeremiah. During a time when the Israelites were living in captivity in Babylon. They were slaves. That’s the critical thing to note; this passage addresses slaves living in enemy territory. Jeremiah had just dropped the bomb on the Israelites that their liberation would be 70 years off. I would guess that most Israelites were depressed by this news. Most of them would be dead before liberation. Jeremiah then encourages them with this passage.

It is addressed to a group of people, not individuals. It promises that God is still in control even when things are bleak. It’s a promise that even though things might not make sense to them now, God’s plan is still good.

Psalm 33:11, “The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.”

I believe that God has a plan and purpose not only for the human race but for my individual life. –  Anne Graham Lotz

APPLICATION

So, am I wrong in using this verse to provide hope for myself? Yes and No. This verse does not assure me of future prosperity and a life without strife. It does remind me that I am part of something bigger—God has designated me as part of His plan for His people. We have to take any passage in the Bible and wrap it with the totality of God’s teaching. God’s plan is still good, and I am part of His plan.

Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

We are each gifted with specific attributes that God will use to forward His Kingdom here on earth. Although this gifting may not seem equal from a human point of view, it is in God’s eyes because we are created perfectly for the mission he has for us. If we are gifted to leadership and business, it is because business people need to hear the Gospel. If we are gifted as craftsmen or teachers, they also need to hear the good news. Whatever country we were raised in, whatever economic circumstances we find ourselves in, and whatever vocation we gravitate toward was specified by God to expand His kingdom.

Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Does that mean that we should accept our circumstances? That depends on what the Holy Spirit is telling you. Part of the training I am involved with centers around this concept; Are you called to do this? Has God put it on your heart to pursue this life change? Are you doing it because you want it, or is this part of God’s gifting for you?

Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Throughout our lives, God moves us through seasons. He is constantly teaching and directing us. Your purpose never changes, but your plan may. You might need experience in another skill or another country before you are ready to progress. What you perceive as your destination may only be the next mile marker.

Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

Along the way, wherever you find yourself, you are where God wants you to be. He wants you to experience the joy of working with Him for His people at every point in your life.  God will not set you aside. Even in quiet times, there will be opportunities to work with God.  

Proverbs 16:3-4, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.”

God has plans to give you hope and a future; you are the one who has to opt in or out.

Philippians 1:6, “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.”

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Experiencing Answered Prayer

Mark 11:24, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

I love it when God validates prayer. First, let me say that this week has been a real downer for me. You don’t want to read the posts I created. They are all dark and gloomy. Bad things were happening all around me. They are not the type of things I want the world to read. So, I was stuck without something I thought God would want me to put out there. The answer is always prayer. I prayed for His word to flow through me. I got a twofer; Two-for-one. God answered my immediate prayer by reminding me of another prayer a year ago, almost to this very day.

John 5:14, “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”

On August 24, 2021, I published a post entitled My Last Day in Toknok. It was a lament concerning three fabulous women I had met in Toknok, Kyrgyzstan. We had met for dinner in a small restaurant next to what I could only call the most Chucky-like amusement park I had ever seen. This place was scary during the daylight; at night, it took on a new level of spookiness. The conversations were about the challenges of being a single, young, college-educated Christian woman in a predominantly Muslim country. Finding a husband and a career seemed almost insurmountable; it was a fundamental math problem.

Psalm 66:19, “But certainly God has heard; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer.”

Here is the last paragraph of that post:

“The sadness is that when I come back, and I will, there can only be one sad ending or another. These young women will have chased God’s vision for their lives, and I may never see them again. Or they will not, and I will see a shell of the person they could have been. My selfish prayer is that God’s plan for them will be revealed in a way that brings us both joy.”

“My selfish prayer is that God’s plan for them will be revealed in a way that brings us both joy.” That was my prayer, selfish and self-centered. I wanted them to experience all the joy God had in store for them and simultaneously make me happy. At the time, it seemed improbable at best, impossible at its worst.

Luke 11:10, “For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.”

Well, let’s see what God has to say about that. First, on June 3, 2022, I wrote a post entitled An Incredible Answer to Prayer. Maftuna, the first of the three young ladies, married a great Christian man named Ravil. Their wedding video is a joy to watch. But God is not done. Today I received word that Nadya, the second of the three, is now engaged to Timothy, a pastor’s son. The three of us met a few months ago in the same restaurant where Nadya announced her dating Timothy but also voiced her concern. A concern that all of us at the table immediately dismissed as over-thinking.

Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you, and tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”

That brings us to Nelly, the third and youngest of the three women. Best I know at this moment, Nelly is not engaged. But she has moved from Toknok to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. In Bishkek, she is involved in a Christian outreach organization and is pursuing an opportunity to open/operate a Christian coffee house. God is not done with her yet, but He is establishing a path.

John 16:24, “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.”

The last answered prayer? You are reading it. God warmed my heart by letting me know that He is still at work when all seems bleak and dismal. We may not see what He is doing, but we can be assured He is doing it.

Psalm 5:3, “In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.”

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Little Decisions

“What is always true is that the decisions we make today determine the stories we tell about our lives tomorrow” – Craig Groeschel, Divine Direction.

Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

It is easy to point to the grand decisions in our life as having the most impact on our future. What we many times miss is that it was the many small decisions that proceeded the grand decision that set the stage. Decisions about marriage, jobs, or education start with the small decisions made innocuously in the past. Invisible decisions are so ingrained in our existence that we have long forgotten they were decisions.

James 4:17, “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is a sin.”

What story do you want others to tell about your life? We are not talking about the story you want to tell, but the story others will tell after you are gone. What things in your life will overshadow your service to Christ? What will be mentioned before they talk about your good works or dedication to Christ? What are all the small decisions you have made that will counterbalance the big decision?

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ― Maya Angelou

2 Corinthians 1:17, “Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”? “

I’m sorry, folks, I can’t get over the waste in humanity. All of those people walking the face of the earth living substandard lives thinking they have made it. People whose greatness is shrouded by the perceptions of the world. We compromise, not knowing we are planting the seeds of an unfulfilled life.

Genesis 4:7, “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”

There are countless examples of small decisions leading to mundane, soul-crushing vanilla lives that we count as blessings. We go along to get a long hoping that being part of someone else’s plan will prosper us. We long for more extraordinary things deep inside, but we picked the wrong road. We took what we thought was a shortcut to success and found ourselves in a cul-de-sac of unfulfilled dreams. These small decisions raised the price of success until it almost seemed unattainable.

Proverbs 16: 1-2, “To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue. All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.”

The great news is almost too good to be true. We have heard it a hundred times, but it always applied to others. Who God made you have never changed. Your past decision has not altered God’s plan for your life. It may have made its destination further away, but no less rewarding or attainable.

Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

If you start paying attention to the small decisions facing you daily, the big decision will take care of themselves. But if you focus only on big decisions, you will find few options. Your God is not just the God of the grandiose, but the God of the mundane. Call on Him in every situation.

2 Thessalonians 3:13, “But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.”

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New Year – New Life

Night and day, winter and summer, oceans ebb and tide, the heart contract and relaxes; resolve to live life in cadence with God’s grace.

Hebrews 12: 1-2, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

You can resolve to Fail

Over the years, we have been indoctrinated to the concept of a new year, new life. We take this time to rediscover our passions and direction. There is nothing magic about January first, but it has become the launch point for personal change over the years. 

A study by Strava of 31.5 million participants showed that most people abandon their New Years’ resolutions by the second Tuesday of January. A companion study by The Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment discovered that 55% of resolutions are abandoned by February first. The term” Failure to Launch” comes to mind. The world is made of great ideas that are never implemented, plans that are written and never executed, and good intentions that never see the light of day. Why?

You can resolve to be Good

Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

I think it comes down to head versus heart. We can logically and rationally determine a path forward that our heart is not committed to accomplishing. The pain of changing who we are is greater than remaining as we were. It would be great to chase our passions, but fundamentally we are comfortable being who we are.

It is far more comfortable to conform to the world than to rise above it. We understand that it would be pleasing to God if we did rise above, but is the theoretical promise of eternity better than the world’s comfort? I’m not talking about embracing immorality and unethical behaviors; I’m talking about settling down on our haunches and letting the activities of the world waff over us. It is the passive acceptance of a life that does not please God.

Being good is an admirable worldly trait but doesn’t fundamentally buy anything. Goodness should be an attribute of all Christians and an aspiration of all people. Being a Godly person is the goal. Striving to lead a life that pleases God is the ultimate destination; goodness is a mile marker.

You can resolve to be Great

Isaiah 40:31, “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.”

In his book “Good to Great,” Jim Collins states: “Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great.” So few people translate the plans in their heads to the passion of their hearts. They are willing to accept a good life rather than work at a great life.

Eternal greatness always starts and ends with obedience to God’s call. It is being the person God made you be. It is pushing His Kingdom forward and leaving our kingdom behind. Where is your heart?

The bible defines three attributes of a more prosperous life.

Bios: Bios (bios) is the physiology; properly, God’s gift of physical life, animating all creation to live, move and have its being.

Psyche: Psyche (psuché) is the breath of life, the human soul, the soul as the seat of affections and will, the self, a human person, an individual.

Zoe: Zoe (dzo-ay’) is life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, even in this world, for those who put their trust in Christ. The part of us that cannot live without God.

It is always good to resolve to improve your physical or mental health. Your cry should be for a life based on Zoe, an active, vigorous life dedicated to God. Resolve to use every resource God has given you to bring Him glory beyond what the world encourages? Can you resolve to use your education, job, position, friends, family, and even your vacation as a testimony to God’s greatness? What does your resolve put first?

Be a child of God.

Ephesians 4:22-24, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

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Waterproof Your Boat

Ships don’t sink because of the water around them; they sink because of the water in them. Don’t let what is going on around you get inside you.

Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

As we approach election day, the volume of absurdity crescendos until it envelopes the important. I thought about this statement made by a Taoist Priest. “Chaos only exists for those who do not understand.” Chaos exists in the minds of those whose view is earthly and finite. The world can become a maddening, ever-changing, and endless pursuit of meaning. When you let the noise around you become the noise within you, you sink to fear, uncertainty, and despair.

Jeremiah 25:32, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, Behold, evil is going forth from nation to nation, and a great storm is being stirred up from the remotest parts of the earth.”

We have a God that loves us unconditionally. We have a God that wrote the story of our existence. We have a God that is both omnificent and omnipresent. When we start thinking that our future is in others’ hands, we have lost sight of what matters. Christians are not, and never will be, the victim of random chance or evil forces. Our environment maybe, but we will not.

When we allow worldly thinking to seep into our inner thoughts, we start to sink. When we allow the words of others to dictate our response, we begin to sink. When we rationalize our reaction based on the actions of others, we start to sink. When we let an earthly event poke a hole in the bulkhead of our existence, we sink.

Proverbs 1:27-29, “when disaster comes over you like a storm, when trouble strikes you like a whirlwind, when pain and trouble overwhelm you. Then you will call to me, but I will not answer. You will look for me, but you will not find me. It is because you rejected knowledge and did not choose to respect the Lord.”

I am starting to see the world differently. God, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, made me His ark. The choice animals that I allowed in are; Christian friends, a welcoming church community, daily and weekly scripture readings, Bible study, and prayer. The Gospel is my bulkhead; bible verses are the caulk between the planks. The water will rise around me, but I will be safe.

Psalm 107:29, “He caused the storm to be still so that the waves of the sea were hushed.

In the middle of the tempest of life, I must fight the urge to open a window to take in a worldly view. In doing so, I may let water in. Do it enough times, and I start to sink. Life will rage on. There will always be another storm, but I must stay safe.

Matthew 8:26, “He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.”

Being safe is not becoming ambivalent to the world around us; it is about not letting that world become us. We serve the world with love and compassion as Christ serves us. We help individuals find the shipwright that builds boats that can never sink. Remember, it is not about changing the world; it is about changing the people in the world, one person at a time; when that happens, the world changes.

2 Corinthians 1:4, “who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

Christ has built an invincible armada that no power on earth can destroy. We are indestructible as long as we do not let the water in.

Joshua 23:9, “For the Lord has driven out great and strong nations from before you; and as for you, no man has stood before you to this day.”

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