The apostle John wrote, “Beloved, I pra… to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”. Paul tells them that in the future God will put things right (vv.6–7). We all face temptation, sin, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes and desires. Jesus is coming back. Yes, God Knows the Future “I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose’” (Isaiah 46:9–10).“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). The mind of man plans his way,But the Lord directs his steps. Yes, there is. The truth is that God gives us the freedom to pursue any path we want in life – but God created each of us with a unique purpose and a perfect plan for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV. because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect. He lays out the vision of who we will be – people walking in a manner worthy of Christ, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. We are to do it honestly, and little by little. Moreover, the Lord made it known to me and I knew it;Then You showed me their deeds. He thanks God for their growth: ‘Your faith is growing phenomenally; your love for each other is developing wonderfully … We’re so proud of you’ (vv.3–4, MSG). Certainly we would like to know what God wants for us in the future, but what is important is to know what He wants today! This verse tells us two more things about how God wants us to invest. It helps launch us on the difficult journey to obtain it. • Their hope was placed on greater things – not of the things in this world. Saving money demonstrates good stewardship of the resources God gives us. God does not dictate every choice we make. Yes, we depend on God to provide for all our needs, but that doesn’t mean that we are exempt from planning ahead. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper’ (29:7). He promises that, if you do so, you will be found by him (Jeremiah 29:13–14b). These types of things in life always start with an idea, a dream, a hope. Do you react differently from two or three years ago? We are not simply sitting around waiting for Jesus to return as some of the Thessalonians seemed to have been doing. Lord, thank you that in times of struggle I can turn to you. It’s God’s will that we have the opportunity to choose for ourselves. 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. They are not average or mediocre plans. The study of history helps us to predict the future. God is more than willing to show us His will and plan for our lives, but He also wants us to show that we want to know it and follow it. Being honest is a whole other thing. Jeremiah was a true prophet. Do not believe that America is not mentioned in … Question: "Does God have a plan for me?" 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Obey God’s written plan, His Word, and you will receive the plan God has for you as an individual. God does not plan evil. It's called following God's will. He intended us to follow through with prayerful determination, planning, discipline, perseverance, accountability, and endurance. II. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! God also has a future and a hope prepared for you—not just the world, not just ... God's Plan … And then, I realize why God doesn’t tell us everything about our future. But He doesn’t tell us everything this journey will entail. How do we find the faithful diligence required to connect with the master plan? We want to know what God is telling us and follow His direction. Help me to run in the path of your commands. But there were false prophets around, like Hananiah. Help me to walk in your paths and fulfil the purpose you have for me. To put it plainly, if you don't have strong character, you will set yourself up for failure, and will not be … In all this, Paul prays that the name of Jesus will be glorified: ‘If your life honours the name of Jesus, he will honour you’ (2 Thessalonians 1:12, MSG). • Their certainty was founded in the faithfulness of God, not the provisions of this world. Jeremiah was a true prophet. In love, Then they took some of the fruit of the land in their hands and brought it down to us; and they brought us back a report and said, ‘It is a good land which the Lord our God is about to give us.’. The opposite of eternal life is ‘destruction’ and being ‘shut out from the presence of the Lord’ (v.9). We are not to be conformed to this world. Thank you that you have a great plan for me. This passage contains one of the most wonderful and often quoted promises of God about his future plans for our lives. One prediction is that some babies born now are likely to live to the ripe old age of 150. Likewise, when God makes us wait He is preparing us for our future. Sometimes the place where you find yourself is not where you want to be but, if God has led you there, then that place must be fertile ground for God’s work in you to thrive. The psalmist does not disguise his feelings. It changes everything about how we live our lives now, and infuses every moment of the present with hope. Resolve to follow God’s ways in everything, but not out of a sense of obligation or guilt. Thank you that, as far as the future is concerned, you have a path for me. He also wants us to know that as we submit to his plan, he will use us to bless the world. Romans 12:2. But is there any place in the Bible where we can find out what God wants for us? Proverbs 6:6–8 shows us that this principle is lived out even in nature: “Go to the … I know that you want to see your earthly family in heaven, so stay alive in the Word and raise your kids with godly … What Does God's Plan Look Like for the World? As you spend time with him, you will become like him and he will lead you into the good plans he has for your life. Answer: Many of God’s plans are detailed throughout the Bible. We know that God has a plan for us, a plan that is for our good. Certainly, God does care about what we study in school, what kind of job we have, who we marry, and where we live. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. The future’s not ours to see, Que Sera, Sera. If you want his plans to be fulfilled in your life, you need to seek him. Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. God’s Word is a faithful lamp to guide us as we seek His plan for our lives. In Him. A: When we talk about God’s plan for us, we shouldn’t think his plan is like a computer program, spelled out to the last detail. They are good, pleasing and perfect (Romans 12:2). This too will pass. God often clearly demonstrates His plan for our lives by lining up circumstances in obvious ways. It is very exciting to be part of the new Alpha term. And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. ‘You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you, “Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted;State a proposal, but it will not stand,For God is with us.”. He speaks openly and vulnerably about them: ‘I am feeling terrible – I couldn’t feel worse!’ (v.25a, MSG). Lord, today I want to seek you with all my heart. Romans 8:14 says, “For all those who are led by God’s spirit, these … Such people approach goal-setting from opposite ends of the spectrum: the first fellow, though humble, does not really use his God-given intellect to make decisions. There is an important principle here. He has plans for nations, for people groups, and for individuals. The message was right, but my application of it was wrong. In this confidence I intended at first to come to you, so that you might twice receive a blessing; Then they said, “Come and let us devise plans against Jeremiah. Is your love increasing? For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Tim 6:9-10a). How does God want me to live? For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. God is the one who says (Jeremiah 29:11-13), “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. No one knows exactly when it will happen, but we are to live every day as if he were returning today – doing what he would want us to be doing. This is the three-part blessing of being obedient to His will and commands. 1. Now, Jeremiah speaks the message from the Lord to his people in exile. It is not a lost opportunity, but one that can be made up in a split-second, a million times better than you ever imagined. But as it is, God arranged all the … This may seem like a foolish question - but many people in the world today feel that the earth and its people are heading nowhere. We want to know the one grand purpose God had for us, and which paths Jesus is directing us down so we make the best decisions. "I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:8). How Do You Know God has a Plan for Your Life? 3.1 Does God Have a Master Plan? Are you willing to follow His plan, even if it means changing? Donald Trump at 2015 Values Voter Summit, image from CNN coverage A “prophetic” blogger declared this week that God told her that President Donald Trump would win reelection in 2020 as part of a divine plan in which “the destiny of the United States of America is intertwined with the unfolding of God’s end-time plans on the earth.” He heard the word of the Lord. Jeremiah says, ‘The prophet who prophesies peace will be recognised as one truly sent by the Lord only if his prediction comes true’ (28:9). Isaiah 46:10–11 summarizes what God wants us to know about His plans: “My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I … As Carl Henry put it, ‘The gospel is only good news if it gets there in time.’. Paul says this includes the Thessalonians ‘because you believed our testimony to you’ (v.10b). When Jesus returns he will execute a perfectly just judgment: ‘This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels’ (v.7). Though they intended evil against YouAnd devised a plot,They will not succeed. If God directs today, and tomorrow and the next day...on into the future...God will get us to where He wants us to be and will use us as He desires. God desires that all people repent and come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). Allow the Holy Spirit to Lead You. He heard the word of the Lord. “Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;Do not promote his evil device, that they not be exalted. Romans 12:2. In effect, God here gives His definition of “shalom:” And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’; Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps. The gospel message is urgent. Based upon these and many other Biblical passages, it’s fairly safe to draw the conclusion that God does not want us to worry needlessly. Quite the contrary! Everything God wants us to know and do is in his word. That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t prepare for the future and tend to important daily matters. 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