“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” - Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV).
This soothing verse spoken to us through the prophet Jeremiah is applicable to many lives, as it was then. At the heart of this message is a firm belief that none of us is here by accident. Earlier we find, the Lord had revealed to Jeremiah, by mentioning "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).
Many people assume that their lives on earth is by chance. Since the devil is a liar, he impresses on many that they have no purpose in life, since there wasn’t as much object behind their creation after all. Anything in their lives is purely by accident, and things just happen by chance. Knowing how powerful God’s plan is, for any life, the devil is of course fostering this lie, besides doing everything to frustrate that plan through his favorite weapon of deceit.
Yet through scripture we see virtually all the great men and women God used He had a plan for them long before they appeared. From the father of our faith Abraham, to Isaac, Samuel, David, Mary, Paul, Peter; all these, and more, their lives had been planned long before they came to be. The coming of Christ had long been prophesied 800 years before he appeared on earth: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
Just as it were for them, so is your life, long planned out, and for a good purpose. God, who was behind your creation, wishes the very best for you his child, even as the enemy, Satan, is out and about trying to snatch this good plan away, for which you must not let him do.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, I want to thank you for I am not a creature of chance but you have a plan for me, and it is a good plan, which is continually being revealed in my life, this I pray in Jesus’s name.
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06/05/2024 - 07/05/2024 All day“Do not confirm to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2)
Almost all cultivators are aware that if soils are used perpetually without rains but constantly under work they are deprived of all nutrients. So, though once productive, they lose all power to yield fresh crops as before. But so is our Christian life when we do not regularly feed our spirit life with the Word!
In our leading verse, the Apostle Paul is urging believers to “renew” their minds rather than make them stale, lest they end up losing all power to yield fruit. But how is this done? We renew our minds by constantly reading the Word of God, for there are always insights with God speaking to us afresh. Psalm 119:104-5 says, “I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” The Apostle Peter reminds us, “Like newborn babies hungry for milk, you should want the pure teaching that feeds your spirit. With it you can grow and be saved.” It is a beautiful illustration for any who have seen a hungry baby sucking the teats of a mother.
Renewing our minds is also by reading about the lives of people of faith who have walked before us and their created works. The Christian faith started in the first century after Jesus was crucified and resurrected from the dead. Now over two millenniums it has produced giants of faith who have shared their walk with God through inspired teachings that are a treasure to dig into. By scouring the writings of the great saints before us, listening to their recorded sermons, songs and preaching, which these days can be found on virtual medial channels like Yu tube, reading their biographies, our faith is renewed.
And then we also renew our faith through fellowship. When the Apostle Paul urges us, “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” ( Hebrews 10:25), he is reminding us that our faith cannot grow in isolation. During the Covid pandemic lockdown one bitter issue was denying Believers opportunity to meet fellow followers of Christ to share testimonies showing the work of God in their lives.
So today, if your faith is on a low keel, or you want it to flower, one thing you can’t help doing without is “renewing” your mind. The blessings to unfold are endless.
Prayer for today:Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a treasure we have of your rich Word to dig into always; books around us of faith to inspire us; and believers to share our faith- may we make use of these, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
