Today marks the beginning of a new year. It signifies for many a new start, a chance to do things differently. Most people will start the New Year with a set of resolutions, or carefully laid out plans and aspirations. However these resolutions sometimes become “neverlutions” because they never get started they go no further than the paper they were written on. When it comes to our plans and aspirations, we find that they do not always go the way we intended. Regardless of how well- crafted these plans are life happens which does not take into consideration your plans. I do believe that making plans are wise, but because of our inability to predict the future, it makes more sense to run these plans by someone who knows our future. Who is this person?
Jeremiah 29:11 tells us this-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 (NIV).
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end (KJV).
Yes this person is Jesus Christ our Lord. Our Lord already has some plans in place for us- plans that will make us prosperous, plans that provide for us hope and a future. These plans are tailor made for each of us according to who we are. As a matter of fact these plans were in place before the foundations of the earth. Here is how I know. I was eaves dropping on a conversation the Lord was having with Jeremiah and here is a key part of their conversation-Jeremiah 1: 5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew [fn] you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.
The same thing the Lord said to Jeremiah is what He is also saying to us as well. This is reassuring to me that God things so highly of me. In addition I overheard a reflection by David Psalm 139 and especially his words in verses 14-18
Another passage that I love to read along with these three passages is Isaiah 43:15-21 especially like to meditate on verses 18-19 where it reminds me of how God blesses me in various ways, and not necessarily what I am accustomed to. I am also reminded that He will always come through for me even in my wilderness or a desert places.
So as we embrace 2013 let us trust God with the plans He has for you and me. Whatever happens in 2013 will not foil His plan for us; instead it helps in completing His plans. Not everything that comes at us in 2013 is necessarily coming from God, but He is a great wide receiver and anything that comes to harm us, He will turn it around in such a way to prosper us. There will be times in 2013 that we will have no clue how certain things we face fits into His plan for us, but we must continue to trust Him.
Unfortunately although He knows the plans He has for us He does not show it to us all at once. Be patient, very soon the plan will start to take shape and to make sense.
Have a Happy and Blessed New Year.
In His Service,
Vilma
