Our Plans vs. God's Purpose
May 2014
"We humans keep brainstorming options and plans. but God’s purpose prevails." Proverbs 19:21 MSG
"You can make many plans, but the LORD's purpose will prevail." Proverbs 19:21 NLT
Once you have surrendered your life----dreams/plans----- to Christ, He then gives you an assignment. This assignment was ordained for you before the foundation of the world and only you can fulfill it because only you were anointed for the job. This assignment is unique, special, glorious, life changing, and fulfilling. But this assignment at times can be uncomfortable, "impossible," and outside of your comfort zone and natural ability. Why? Because it is in you that He wants to do a new thing, it is through you that He will do the impossible and get the glory, and it is for you so that you will reach your expected end. "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). No eye has seen? No ear has heard? No mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love HIm? No one can testify this truth as well as Mary. Minding her business in Nazareth, as many of us are doing (or trying to at least) when God lays something on our heart to do. She was what many would call, "ordinary," but one thing that I have learned in life is that the people that everyone thinks are so ordinary are usually the ones who God calls to be extraordinary and do the extraordinary. She was a virgin, engaged to be married when one day, "Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you" (Luke 1:28 NLT). Mary responded as many of us do when God calls us out, she became extremely confused and fearful. She probably looked around her and saw "just" a village in Galilee. She also probably put together a mental note of all of her accomplishments and failures and thought...."What do you mean the Lord is with me?" But in the midst of her deep thoughts and confusion, the angel of the Lord said, "Don't be afraid. For you have found favor with God" (Luke 1:30 NLT). Following this calming truth came her purpose. You see, her plans were to be a good wife to Joseph, a homemaker, and have some babies in the future but she learned what many of us must learn and that is that although, "we humans keep brainstorming options and plans; God's purpose prevails (Proverbs 19:21 MSG). Her plans were "good," but God's purpose was greater! I wonder what "good" plans you have? God's purpose for Mary was not just to be a wife and homemaker, but to be impregnated by the Holy Spirit and give birth to a world changer. I wonder what it is the Lord has impregnated you with? I wonder what is it that the Lord has called you to give birth to? I also wonder if you have accepted His purpose for your life or have you constantly doubted, questioned, and walked in fear of it? "Mary asked the angel, "But how can this happen? I am a virgin" (Luke 1:34)? "How can this be so, no one has ever done it before? What do you mean You've called me to walk in purity and honor God with my body, when it seems as though everyone is doing the opposite? What do You mean You've called me to get another degree, most people only have one or two, if that? What do You mean Lord......that's impossible!" Sound familiar? My friend, when these questions arise, laugh at the impossibilities and remind yourself that they are God's specialty! "The angel replied, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you" (Luke 1:35). As people who are now under the new covenant, once we became born again the Holy Spirit took up residence inside of us.
My friend, as blood bought believers who are under the new covenant the Holy spirit no longer has to come upon us and then empower us to do something because He lives within us! And if we allow Him to, He can empower and enable us to do the hard, uncomfortable, and difficult stuff. He is a comforter, counselor, helper, intercessor, advocate, strengthener, and stand by (John 14:26 AMP). This is why the power that is in you is greater than any power that is of this world and when you get a revelation of who lives on the inside of you and learn to walk in the Spirit, what's impossible for most will be possible for you.
Friend, in order for you to walk out the call of God on your life, you must do as Mary did and say, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true" (Luke 1:38 NLT). Mary knew that what the Lord had called her to do was going to require trust and faith. She knew that many would not understand and would ridicule her. She knew that there may be a chance that she would have to walk this thing out alone, but she agreed with God. Friend, the Lord is a perfect gentleman. He will not force anything on you, but in order to be all that He called you to be and do what He has called you to do, you are going to have to agree with and believe Him concerning who He is, what He can do, your purpose, and your identity over the opinions of others, your feelings, and what you see. You're going to have to live by faith. "Now the just shall live by faith. For "it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him" (Hebrews 10:38,11:6). It takes faith to agree with what God says about your future, when the present is the complete opposite. It takes faith to believe that you already have the victory when you feel like a failure. It takes faith to believe that God's purpose is greater, when you have some really good plans. It takes faith to trust God, to choose Him even when you don't quite understand. Faith is not a fashion statement, something that is in style one day and out of style the next, it's a lifestyle.....it's a necessity. It is knowing that no matter what, " No word from God will ever fail (Luke 1:37 NIV)! Once you make the choice to live by faith and to trust God even when things don't make sense, you will respond as Mary did, "I’m bursting with God-news; I’m dancing the song of my Savior God. God took one good look at me, and look what happened- I’m the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will never be forgotten, the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others. His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him (Luke 1:46-50 MSG). For You are good, God. For You are good to me! Today, don't plan and pray to God to make it work. Pray and seek His face......ask Him what His purpose is for your life.
"Great victories have been won because of prayer and great battles have been lost because we did not take time to pray." (Kenneth Hagin)
Once He reveals it to you, go from your knees in prayer to your feet in obedience. ALWAYS rely on the Holy Spirit's guidance and direction in EVERY DECISION. He will not only tell you what to do, but will also help you do it. He will empower you! Always remember that God's purpose for your life is too big for any human to abort or contaminate with opinions. Don't give in and don't ever give up on God! Faith that throws in the towel today won't have one to wave in victory tomorrow! Take courage and stare fear in the face, speak the Word, and just do what God has placed in your heart to do! All of Heaven is rooting for you! You can do it!
Stay encouraged!
"You can make many plans, but the LORD's purpose will prevail." Proverbs 19:21 NLT
Once you have surrendered your life----dreams/plans----- to Christ, He then gives you an assignment. This assignment was ordained for you before the foundation of the world and only you can fulfill it because only you were anointed for the job. This assignment is unique, special, glorious, life changing, and fulfilling. But this assignment at times can be uncomfortable, "impossible," and outside of your comfort zone and natural ability. Why? Because it is in you that He wants to do a new thing, it is through you that He will do the impossible and get the glory, and it is for you so that you will reach your expected end. "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). No eye has seen? No ear has heard? No mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love HIm? No one can testify this truth as well as Mary. Minding her business in Nazareth, as many of us are doing (or trying to at least) when God lays something on our heart to do. She was what many would call, "ordinary," but one thing that I have learned in life is that the people that everyone thinks are so ordinary are usually the ones who God calls to be extraordinary and do the extraordinary. She was a virgin, engaged to be married when one day, "Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you" (Luke 1:28 NLT). Mary responded as many of us do when God calls us out, she became extremely confused and fearful. She probably looked around her and saw "just" a village in Galilee. She also probably put together a mental note of all of her accomplishments and failures and thought...."What do you mean the Lord is with me?" But in the midst of her deep thoughts and confusion, the angel of the Lord said, "Don't be afraid. For you have found favor with God" (Luke 1:30 NLT). Following this calming truth came her purpose. You see, her plans were to be a good wife to Joseph, a homemaker, and have some babies in the future but she learned what many of us must learn and that is that although, "we humans keep brainstorming options and plans; God's purpose prevails (Proverbs 19:21 MSG). Her plans were "good," but God's purpose was greater! I wonder what "good" plans you have? God's purpose for Mary was not just to be a wife and homemaker, but to be impregnated by the Holy Spirit and give birth to a world changer. I wonder what it is the Lord has impregnated you with? I wonder what is it that the Lord has called you to give birth to? I also wonder if you have accepted His purpose for your life or have you constantly doubted, questioned, and walked in fear of it? "Mary asked the angel, "But how can this happen? I am a virgin" (Luke 1:34)? "How can this be so, no one has ever done it before? What do you mean You've called me to walk in purity and honor God with my body, when it seems as though everyone is doing the opposite? What do You mean You've called me to get another degree, most people only have one or two, if that? What do You mean Lord......that's impossible!" Sound familiar? My friend, when these questions arise, laugh at the impossibilities and remind yourself that they are God's specialty! "The angel replied, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you" (Luke 1:35). As people who are now under the new covenant, once we became born again the Holy Spirit took up residence inside of us.
- "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you.....(Ezekiel 36:26-27),
- "Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 3:16)?
My friend, as blood bought believers who are under the new covenant the Holy spirit no longer has to come upon us and then empower us to do something because He lives within us! And if we allow Him to, He can empower and enable us to do the hard, uncomfortable, and difficult stuff. He is a comforter, counselor, helper, intercessor, advocate, strengthener, and stand by (John 14:26 AMP). This is why the power that is in you is greater than any power that is of this world and when you get a revelation of who lives on the inside of you and learn to walk in the Spirit, what's impossible for most will be possible for you.
- "The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you" (Romans 8:11 NLT).
Friend, in order for you to walk out the call of God on your life, you must do as Mary did and say, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true" (Luke 1:38 NLT). Mary knew that what the Lord had called her to do was going to require trust and faith. She knew that many would not understand and would ridicule her. She knew that there may be a chance that she would have to walk this thing out alone, but she agreed with God. Friend, the Lord is a perfect gentleman. He will not force anything on you, but in order to be all that He called you to be and do what He has called you to do, you are going to have to agree with and believe Him concerning who He is, what He can do, your purpose, and your identity over the opinions of others, your feelings, and what you see. You're going to have to live by faith. "Now the just shall live by faith. For "it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him" (Hebrews 10:38,11:6). It takes faith to agree with what God says about your future, when the present is the complete opposite. It takes faith to believe that you already have the victory when you feel like a failure. It takes faith to believe that God's purpose is greater, when you have some really good plans. It takes faith to trust God, to choose Him even when you don't quite understand. Faith is not a fashion statement, something that is in style one day and out of style the next, it's a lifestyle.....it's a necessity. It is knowing that no matter what, " No word from God will ever fail (Luke 1:37 NIV)! Once you make the choice to live by faith and to trust God even when things don't make sense, you will respond as Mary did, "I’m bursting with God-news; I’m dancing the song of my Savior God. God took one good look at me, and look what happened- I’m the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will never be forgotten, the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others. His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him (Luke 1:46-50 MSG). For You are good, God. For You are good to me! Today, don't plan and pray to God to make it work. Pray and seek His face......ask Him what His purpose is for your life.
"Great victories have been won because of prayer and great battles have been lost because we did not take time to pray." (Kenneth Hagin)
Once He reveals it to you, go from your knees in prayer to your feet in obedience. ALWAYS rely on the Holy Spirit's guidance and direction in EVERY DECISION. He will not only tell you what to do, but will also help you do it. He will empower you! Always remember that God's purpose for your life is too big for any human to abort or contaminate with opinions. Don't give in and don't ever give up on God! Faith that throws in the towel today won't have one to wave in victory tomorrow! Take courage and stare fear in the face, speak the Word, and just do what God has placed in your heart to do! All of Heaven is rooting for you! You can do it!
Stay encouraged!