God's Master Plan for Your Life

“Live until You’re Satisfied”	5/12/08

Long life is, without question, part of God’s Master Plan for us. I plan to live a long life and remain on this earth until I’m fully satisfied. Don’t get me wrong, I look forward to the resurrected, glorified body I’m going to get when I meet Jesus. But as wonderful as that will be, that day will have to wait until I’ve finished my assignment and life here on earth! Then, I’ll follow the example of Old Testament believers like Jacob. I like the way he chose to depart. The Bible teaches it is not God’s will for death to come to us early. That’s why He says: My son, forget not my law or teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life (worth living) and tranquility (inward and outward and continuing through old age until death), these shall they add to you (Proverbs 3:1-2, AMP). When you obey the Word of God, you can expect long life, peace and tranquility every day you live on the earth. That’s important because long life by itself isn’t always a blessing. It’s no fun to live long if you’re sick or dependent on others to take care of you. For life to be worth living, you want to live long and be strong. You want to spend your days in peace and tranquility. You want to be walking in the Master Plan of God! According to Psalm 91:16 you should live until you’re fully satisfied! Thank you for allowing me to share in your journey these last few months. I pray for God’s infinite blessings to be upon you as you continue to walk out God’s Master Plan for Your Life.

“Seedtime and Harvest”	5/5/08

The kingdom of God works according to one basic system. As long as we cooperate with that system, we’ll keep making progress. We’ll move steadily forward in the will of God, increasing in spirit, soul and body. This all-important system of operation is seedtime and harvest. As Genesis 8:22 says, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest…shall not cease.” The process of seedtime and harvest is a spiritual process. The most powerful seed that exists is the seed of God’s Word. It is the supernatural seed that was planted in our hearts that brought forth the new birth. It is, according to 1 Peter 1:23, incorruptible seed “which lives and abides forever.” From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible clearly teaches everything God does starts with the seed of His Word. In the beginning, when He created heaven and earth, He did it with His Word. He said, “Let there be light’; and there was light.” He said, “Let the earth bring forth….’And the earth brought forth….” (Genesis 1:3, 11, 12). The entire universe was framed and is continually upheld by the Word of God’s power (Hebrews 1:3, 11:3). Every plan of God that has ever been carried out in the earth began has begun with the planning of His Word. Your Master Plan is no exception. It will be accomplished by the working of God’s Word within you. It will come forth as God’s Word is planted in your heart, cultivated, and given time to grow. When God’s Word is planted in good soil, it always produces a harvest. And if you want to keep the faith process moving, don’t wait until harvest time comes to be glad. Begin rejoicing now and you’ll keep moving on down the road of God’s Master Plan for your life.

“Enjoy the Journey”	4/28/08

If you’ve ever taken children on a road trip, chances are you’ve heard the infamous phrase, “Are we there yet?” More than likely, your answer was “No” because the journey had just begun. You may have only been on the road five minutes, but to your small, impatient passengers it seemed like five hours. That’s a popular question, not just among children but also with Christians trying to stay connected to God’s Master Plan. Once we get a glimpse of what God has called us to do and who He has called us to be, we often become impatient. We become weary of the growth process—waiting for our divinely inspired hopes and dreams to come true. But it takes time for God’s plans to develop. Even though He is able to work instantly and miraculously to bring things to pass, God usually does things by process. He brings them forth gradually—over days, weeks, months, even years. That’s why God warned the Israelites in advance that it would take time for them to overcome all the enemies and occupy the land (Exodus 23: 22-23, 29-30). Patiently enduring the delays and hardships that come our way makes us stronger, more mature believers. It increases the blessing in our lives and prepares us for the next phase of God’s plan for us. When we exercise faith and patience, overcoming challenges and gaining the victory, it pushes us forward and into bigger and better things. Learn to do what immature children everywhere find almost impossible—just sit back and enjoy the journey.

“Be grateful”	4/21/08

Over the years, I’ve noticed that people who murmur and complain usually end up stuck in the wilderness and can’t seem to find their way out. They accept complaining as a way of life. They complain about everything: their children, their jobs, the economy, the weather, their health. They even complain about God. The Old Testament book of Malachi refers to some people who fell into trouble because of murmuring and complaining. They became so irritated with the circumstances in their lives that they actually said, “It’s useless to serve God. We’ve tried to walk pleasing before Him and it hasn’t profited us one bit. The wicked are more blessed than we are!” (Malachi 3:14-15, NKJV). God doesn’t appreciate those kinds of comments. There is no faith in them and they give Him nothing to work with. It’s hard not to complain when things seem so difficult. I’ve been there, and I know how it is. It’s tempting to feel sorry for yourself. Even in the hard times though, when things aren’t going the way we expected, we must always refuse to speak ill of God. God is unfailingly good and righteous. He is our answer—not our problem. Conquer the temptation to complain and actively cultivate a grateful attitude toward God. Say positive things about God: “God is good. He keeps His Word to me. He is faithful.” If the pressure starts getting to you, recite Psalm 145. I encourage you to be grateful. Practice blessing and praising God every day this week. Your new habit of praising will soon replace any former habit of complaining!

“Obedience is always best”	4/14/08

We all have opportunities to connect or disconnect from God’s plan through obedience or disobedience. Sometimes what seems like minor acts of disobedience can result in making major, long-term differences in our lives. Moses missed part of his destiny because, under tremendous pressure, he lost his temper and disobeyed the instructions of the Lord. The Israelites were in the wilderness and in desperate need of water. When Moses and Aaron went before the Lord to inquire what to do, the Lord instructed Moses to speak to the rock and water would flow. Instead, Moses disobeyed God’s instruction and struck the rock twice. Water still flowed but God told Moses that because of his disobedience, he would be unable to bring the children into the Promise Land (Numbers 20). Both Moses and his brother Aaron died outside the Promise Land. Obedience to God is always best. If you disobey and make a mistake, God will forgive you if you truly repent. He will be good to you and bless you all He can but as a result of your disobedience, like Moses, you might miss part of His Master Plan for your life. That is why it is important that we obey Him at all costs. Continually check your heart for leadings from the Holy Spirit. Obey promptings and gentle impressions. Taking a different route home might avoid an accident. Calling that person at just the right time can make a significant impact on their life. Obeying God will never cost you but always increase you—spirit, soul, and body—and in every area of your life.

“God’s Strategies Work”	4/7/08

It’s always better to do things *God’s way.* That’s what the Israelites did before they marched against Jericho. Instead of figuring out their own battle plan, they got one from God. And as is often the case, the plan God gave them was extremely unorthodox. He instructed them to march around the city walls once for six days. He further instructed them that on the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times. After the seventh time around, the priests were to blow their trumpets and the people give a great shout. Then the walls of the city would fall. Humanly speaking, this plan didn’t make sense. But when the Israelites followed God’s plan, everything fell into place and they conquered Jericho. God’s plan brought them 100 percent success. Imagine how differently things might have turned out had the Israelites raced full speed ahead toward Jericho, full of faith in God’s ability to give the victory—but without getting His instructions on how to fight the battle? The walls would have remained standing and the Israelites would have wondered why God had allowed them to suffer humiliation and defeat. Sometimes, that’s what happens to us when we try to walk out God’s Master Plan on our own. We get a glimpse of what He has called us to do. We believe He has the ability to do it through us. And, without taking time to ask Him for His divine strategy, we make our own plans and expect God to back them. That’s not a good idea. Instead, determine to get God’s wisdom and His strategy for your life and you will have 100 percent success.

“Wanted: The most unlikely candidates.”	3/31/08

God can use ordinary people to do absolutely extraordinary things. The Bible tells us in Judges 6-7 about a time in the history of Israel when its enemies, the Midianites and the Amalekites, were ruthlessly attacking. These Canaanites destroyed Israel’s crops and herds and left the entire nation in poverty. When the Israelites cried out to the Lord to raise up a leader to deliver them from the situation, God chose Gideon for the job. Talk about an unlikely candidate! Gideon spent his days hiding from the Midianites in a winepress. By his own admission, he was from the weakest family in Israel…and he was afraid. Even so, the angel God sent to inform him of his assignment greeted him by saying, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!” (Judges 6:12, NKJV). When given his assignment from the Lord, Gideon said, “How can I?” Does that sound familiar? God’s answer is still the same today: “Surely, I will be with you.” In the end, Gideon’s army defeated the enemies. Why? Because it wasn’t based on Gideon and what he could and couldn’t do but it was the Lord and His ability and what He did through* Gideon.* It’s important that we get our minds off ourselves and forget about our natural abilities. When you get your attention off yourself and fix your mind on pleasing God and being a blessing to others, you’ll be able to push the fear out of the way and do whatever the Lord tells you to do. If you make a mistake, just correct it and go on. Keep following God and His plan and you’ll continue improving and developing the hidden abilities God wants to bring out in you.

“With every word you speak - choose life”	3/24/08

I’m absolutely convinced that had Ken and I not followed Jesus’ example and begun confessing God’s Word over our lives rather than words of unbelief, we could never have connected with God’s Master Plan. The same is true for you. You must start saying what God says about you. Doing that one thing will literally change the course of your life. James 3 guarantees it: “If anyone does not offend in speech, he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature. If we set bits in the horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we can turn their whole bodies about. Likewise, look at the ships: though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, they are steered by a very small rudder whenever the impulse of the helmsman determines. Even so the tongue is a little member, and it can boast of great things (James 3:2-5, AMP). Your words will steer you toward your future as surely as a bit guides a horse, or a rudder directs a ship. If you’re not quite convinced that your words can make, or break, your connection with God’s plan for your life, consider this verse: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21, NKJV). Even if you’ve been going in the wrong direction for years, you can change your course by changing what you say. Keep your tongue pointed in the right direction and become mindful of the things you say.

Facing the Impossible	3/17/08

Are you facing “impossibilities” in your life? If so, you can look at those impossibilities and say, “With God all things are possible and I believe God!” (Mark 9: 23). This is important because when connecting with God’s plan many things in His plan will initially seem like total impossibilities. Jesus faced what seemingly was an “impossibility.” He knew His Master Plan; but it wasn’t easy. In Mark 14:32, Jesus came to Gethsemane with His disciples to pray and the Bible says, “He began to be troubled and deeply distressed.” While praying Jesus said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” When Jesus died, it appeared the enemy had won. But this was not the case! Jesus rose from the dead, and gave all mankind the free gift of salvation (John 3:16). As soon as Adam and Eve sinned God unfolded His plan. Speaking of Jesus, God warned the devil about the “Seed” of the woman who would one day come and crush his head (Genesis 3:15). Jesus’ death and resurrection was all part of the Master Plan! You too may be faced with what seems like an impossibility. God may be instructing you to do something you are unsure how to do, or that you don’t have the means to do. If so, do exactly what Jesus did: resist the devil, believe God’s Word and take the next step. Remain determined to obey what He says and act on the instructions He gives you. And just like Jesus, you too, will have the victory.

The secret of the Word	3/10/08

My favorite part of the day is first thing in the morning when I spend time reading my Bible. As I allow the Holy Spirit to teach me what the Scriptures mean and give me fresh revelations, I am expectant that I will hear from God about His will for my life. The Holy Spirit is always ready, willing and able to guide you through the Word to help you find the answers you need. Why then do some people receive the answers to their needs through the Word while others can honestly say their knowledge of the Bible has done little to change their lives? Can a person actually read and study the Bible for years and be unaffected by it? Absolutely! In Mark 7:13 Jesus said, “You make the Word of God of no effect through your tradition.” People often fail in their attempts because they are trying to figure out how to do it in their own strength and their own understanding. They haven’t realized that for the Bible to come alive to them, they must draw near to its Author and trust Him—expect Him—to reveal, not just to their minds but to their hearts, the powerful secrets of His Word. Every time you’re faced with an important decision ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate the Word of God to you so you make the choices that will open the door to more blessings in your life and help connect you with His plan. Expect Him to do it, and He will.

Give yourself *wholly* to Him!	3/3/08

My best advice to you is this: give yourself *wholly* to Him! To succeed, you must make a lifestyle of going after God with your whole heart. The more you seek Him, the more blessed you’ll be. However, if you get distracted and stop seeking God, your life will slowly but surely start to fall apart. You’ll experience in a measure what Moses told the Israelites would happen if they stopped seeking God, “And you will be left few in number among the nations to which the Lord will drive you. There you will serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell” (Deuteronomy 4:27-28 AMP). Though we may not literally be scattered among the nations and serve idols of stone, when we stop actively seeking God, we lose sight of our Master Plan. Instead of moving towards our destiny, our lives become scattered and unproductive. It’s not always easy to seek God. It takes extra time and commitment. But the blessings that come as a result of seeking Him make life so much easier in the long run. The Father never stops blessing His people as long as we give Him His rightful place in our lives! This week, make a commitment to seek God with your whole heart. Get up 30 minutes early in the morning. Turn off the television at night. Do whatever it takes to spend extra time with Him. You’ll not only find Him, but you’ll find everything else you need as well.

God is always good and His plan for us is always good.	2/25/08

God is always good and His plan for us is always good. Do you believe this? Is God’s goodness operating in your life? My desire is for everyone to know the truth about how good God really is. Why is this so important? Because life is imperfect and full of challenges. As you walk out God’s plan for you, it will take courage. To meet those challenges, you must dare to believe God truly is as good as the Bible says He is. What exactly does good mean? The dictionary defines it as “beneficial for you; healthy; honorable; enjoyable; morally sound; virtuous and kind; and considerable in significance.” God is all these things and more! And He is infinite in His goodness towards us. God daily loads us with benefits (Psalm 68:19), and He wants you to benefit from (take advantage of) all He has provided. Jesus said if we would just connect with His plan by loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and love our neighbor as ourselves, we would live and “enjoy active, blessed, endless life in the Kingdom of God” (Luke 10:28 AMP). You can trust God. The Bible assures us He will give us the desires of our hearts and, when the going gets tough, He’ll substitute His strength for our weakness. This week, meditate on the goodness of God and all the ways He has blessed your life. References: Psalm 31:19; Psalm 145:9; Psalm 34:4, 8-10; and Psalm 37:4

Maintaining a Living Connection with God	2/18/08

I'm so glad you've decided to join me on the journey of connecting to God’s Master Plan for your life. If you were to ask me to name the most important principle of Christian living that I've learned, I could answer without hesitation. It is the secret of maintaining a living connection with God. It is the key that opens every door to this life and the next. God's Master Plan for your Life will help you make that living connection with God. God always has a plan and His plan is uniquely designed for you. God planned out your life before you were ever born. He designed your purpose and destiny before you took your first breath. And God is an awesome planner. He would never design a plan for you and then neglect to give you the ability you need to fulfill it. You have within you His life, His nature and His ability. He created you carefully and wonderfully according to exact specifications so you could fulfill your God-ordained purpose. It's not too late; you can change the course of your life! Live long, stay strong and keep your feet firmly planted on the earth until you’ve successfully completed your Master Plan.