Deciding who you will be
“The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).
Think about it this way: if the mind of man doesn’t plan, what does the Lord have to direct? He includes us in His plan for our futures. I want to challenge you to take a more active role in your future. Don’t leave it to chance.
We can choose well and we will gain eternity, or we can misuse choice by rejecting God and be separated from Him forever. He put eternity into our very own hands!
God’s plans are established
“Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89).
From the beginning of time, God planned to create the earth and to create mankind. Then, knowing that man would fall, He planned and established redemption. He would pay the price that we couldn’t pay. He knew that His original plan would be rejected by man, so God had to make another way. God’s plans are established.
Yet, He has given us a gift of choice as part of His plan. We have a part to play even though the Father’s plans are already established.
We decide what part we want to play in his plan
What part do you want to play in God’s plan? Do you want to reject His plan or do you want to accept it? There are lots of parts that can be played and you get to choose.
What if we have already made some pretty bad choices and we don’t know if there is hope for us? Can we still get on the right track? How do we start?
Believe what God can do
Your faith begins when you believe what God can do. Keep listening! Keep believing! When you believe what God can do, you enter a “can-do” mode. You have hope and our faith is unleashed.
Some blind men found their way to Jesus. They wanted their eyes opened, but they didn’t know what to do. Listen to this conversation.
“… the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord.’ Then He touched their eyes, saying, ‘It shall be done to you according to your faith.’ And their eyes were opened …” (Matthew 9:28-29).
When we believe God, it is the beginning of our faith. That unleashes our faith.
Here’s the secret: all you have to do is to study the Bible and find out what God is already doing, what His plans are. Then, you just jump into His plan! It sure is a lot easier because He is already moving in that direction. All we have to do is get in His lane of traffic — not in the opposite direction. Turn your car and get in His flow of traffic!
Once you find out what God is already doing in you, just cooperate.
Make your spiritual life the most important priority
You must make your spiritual life the most important part of your future. Live a life of integrity and faithfulness to God. Hear His voice and comply because the Holy Spirit knows what you need in your future. If you will listen to what He says, He will lead you. As you make your spiritual life and your relationship with God the most important, God can unpack your future for you.
When you have gained a relationship with the One who has sacrificed and saved, then everything that is planned for you will be released. But this requires your choices, your spiritual life and relationship with God.
“… He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern” (Matthew 6:33).
He created us in His image. The more we become like Jesus, the more we will find our true selves. That’s how He created us from the beginning of time.
Your joy is in your progress
Your joy comes not from arriving, but in your progress. You are far from what you should be, but you feel balanced.
Where is your joy? Joy is in progress; keep pressing forward. You may not know where you’re supposed to be yet, but that’s OK because you’re making progress. Keep stepping in that direction, developing your relationship with God and what pleases Him, making wise choices day by day.
“… I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus … I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14).
Paul says, I haven’t gotten there yet. I don’t know where it is at, but I forget what lies behind and I press on.
Balance comes when there is forward momentum.
Do we gain our inheritance when we finally arrive? No, it is when He sees that we are making wise choices and stewarding the gift of volition. He has much for you. You watch, you wait and you will see.
Photo source: istock
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