Verse of the Week: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
Truth of the Week: God has plans for our lives – and they are good ones! This is a comforting thought. Many of us have probably found refuge in this verse from Jeremiah when we have walked through crazy or uncertain or confusing circumstances.
But what about during the mundane moments of ordinary life? I fear that this is when we sometimes lose sight of the truth that God has plans for us. For me, my default setting is to get up in the morning, plan my schedule for the day, and then try and achieve whatever is on my agenda. I make my list and then set out to accomplish whatever tasks it contains. In general, the plans that I make usually involve as much ease and as little risk as possible.
While there is certainly wisdom in planning and preparing, there is foolishness in forgetting to look to God and listen to what He has for me. I was designed to live in constant fellowship with my Father. It’s not enough to start my day with Him – I was created to abide in Him. There is greater freedom and a fuller enjoyment of His presence when I am able to walk through the moments of my days experiencing an ongoing dialogue with the One who has good plans for me. Life looks very different when I lose my list mentality and truly ask God to help me receive and respond to His plans for me.
Quote of the Week: This is from a devotional called “Jesus Calling” by Sara Young – one which I highly recommend as a tool in developing intimacy with Jesus.
“Try to view each day as an adventure, carefully planned out by your Guide. Instead of staring into the day that is ahead of you, attempting to program it according to your will, be attentive to Me and to all I have prepared for you…Resist your tendency to search for the easiest route through the day. Be willing to follow wherever I lead. No matter how steep or treacherous the path before you, the safest place to be is by My side.”
