God’s Plan- HIS Purpose By Matthew Fenn

God’s Plan- HIS Purpose 

Have you ever looked at your life and thought, “God, I do not know what I’m doing. It seems no matter where I turn I don’t know where you want me?” This was a question I asked myself, and to be pretty honest, still ask myself in my pursuit of God’s will for my life. 

A commonly quoted passage in scripture is Jeremiah 29:11-14, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back from the place I have sent you into exile.” 

We more or less hear the beginning verse in reference to the future. During the time of the Israelites they were living in a time where there seemed to be no hope. To explain the Exile, to elaborate on it would be the equivalent of where you live being over-taken and taken away from you, not only that but you yourself are taken away from your home. The Exile was a time of loss, pain, and sorrow for them. Yet in spite of that God is talking about a restoration, a time where He will not only bring them out of the Exile, but that they will be restored. We look at our lives sometimes and think, “what am I doing, where am I going to be used?” This passage is beautiful because if you read the portion of Jeremiah different versions use “prosper you” in place of “welfare.” When we think of the word prosper our first thought is, well I hope God prospers my bank account. God could do that but there is a deeper meaning behind this word in Hebrew. 

The word prosper is oriented in the Hebrew language not to mean material wealth, but a form of prospering as a result of a relationship. So if we look at the first word we begin to discover that God is talking about prospering us by not just giving us materials, God is saying I will give you myself. He is telling us that our future is a memory to Him. He has got it all worked out. There are many plans but only one purpose. To illustrate this point better think of this. A parent has a young child sitting at the table, and yet also has a dog. The parent’s goal is to feed the child. The parent instructs the child to not feed the dog. The child begins eating their meal, and disobeying the parent, drops food and the dog eats. Now, the parent said not to do this, but the parent’s purpose was fulfilled. This is how it works with God. God’s plans are never foiled, Proverbs 16:9 says, “ The heart of man plans his way, BUT the Lord establishes his steps.” The child disobeyed the parent and yet the purpose was established. We understand that God is giving us Himself, He will prosper us through a relationship with Him (Because He is the best), He will establish our steps, and not only those but if we obey God we then do all things for his glory. 

That is an amazing thing. God is saying, DO NOT FEAR, I AM WITH YOU, I AM ESTABLISHING YOU, MY GLORY WILL BE KNOWN, AND I WILL USE YOU TO DO IT. He has restored you, Jesus is the final restoration, and the appropriate response is of a God-lived life that truly matters. Though the question is still there, “What do I do?” We all ask that question and the answer is to pray, seek God, read his word. Scripture, just the word “Scripture” sounds like “Script- your”, it’s your script! Christians! Look to your word! If an actor attempts to be good in his profession he or she takes a look at their script. They memorize it, they let to make them into the person they are supposed to be! Chase after God, because He has already given you Himself. What an amazing thing! God has everything planned out for his purpose. The one purpose that really matters, the one that will remain when nothing else will. God’s purpose is to use us to establish that. 

So pray, read, make good fruit, and move where God is moving you. If you do not feel him moving, look to scripture and move with the distinct understanding that God is with you. Psalm 33:11 says, “ The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of HIS heart from generation to generation.” Jesus changed the world by coming onto this earth. Because we love him we have faith that we can be used to bring glory, glory to the one who is already worthy of it. Prayer: God please give us the understanding that you are involved in everything in our life. You are leading us, and that you give us the opportunity to be leaders in our lives. You set in us our desires, and that you will bring them into fruition if we follow you, and it brings glory to you. Help us to give ourselves as you have us. -Amen

Forever in His Hands

Forever in His Hands
By J.R. Fields

Psalm 140:4
Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
Preserve me from violent men,
Who have purposed to make my steps stumble.
There is an adversary who longs to see you fall.
That is his purpose, & he makes it his highest goal.
But you have a Father who will teach you how to walk in His ways.
Not only will He teach you, but He will also lift you up every time you fall.
He is the source of strength & of support, always ready to help.
His hands will guide you in all of your steps …
My Father, how comforting it is to know that You hold my life in Yours hands.
Where would we, your children, be without your guidance. Thank you that you seek to make us more like your Son, even though at times it may feel You have forsaken us, Your Word says that You would never do such thing! How wonderful is the comfort of Your Presence. Thank You for your promises, exalt Your name for Christ’s sake. Amen!

Standard Psalms

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A Trustworthy Refuge - JR Fields

A Trustworthy Refuge
By J.R. Fields

Nahum 1:7
The Lord is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He care for those who trust in Him…
When trouble engulfs you & doubt is the only thought that resides in your mind, you need to be grounded on the fact that God is good.
He is the place of comfort and relief in times of trouble.
Like a loving parent comforts a child when he is hurt, so God comforts those who call on His name.
Peter tells us “to cast all our cares upon Him, for He cares for you.” [1 Peter 5:7]
The LORD is good indeed!
Put your trust in Him & discover juts how extreme His love is for you.
Father, what a joy it is to know that You are our strong tower.
How great is your love for us! May Your name be our source of joy.
Bless your Name, for the sake of Your Son. Amen!

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