“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 never 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.
Related upcoming events
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28/04/2024 - 29/04/2024 All day"The Lord is my shepherd!" (Psalm 23:1)
Psalm 23 of David is perhaps one of the best prayers ever written, with nuggets and inspirations, of benefit to us since and
ever before. “The LORD is my shepherd, “David begins.” I lack nothing” (vv 1). What is it that you lack? In his life David had started out as a shepherd, and he knew very well, that a shepherd’s job is to watch over his sheep, feed and water them, and since the Lord is our shepherd, we his sheep shall lack nothing.Verse 2 -3 says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” This exactly what a good shepherd does; he takes his sheep to the best fodder, ensuring that his sheep are well fed and rested. When the sheep are restless the good shepherd is troubled. Our God desires and is pleased when we are at peace.
Sometimes we may all find ourselves going through a storm. In Verse 4- 5, David says, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” The Christian life is not without difficulties, but here David points us to God as our comforter and deliverer. We always have the staff of prayer to lean on.
In Verse 5, he writes, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” In his tumultuous life, David had to battle with many enemies, ranging from King Saul, to foreigners and members of his own family. He knew a lot about betrayal. And, we too, may face enemies no less, from those that oppose us in our workplace for their ambition’s sake, to those who are not pleased because of the Gospel we preach. Yet here, just as David, we are assured that victory is on our side- this is why our cup overflows.
“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (vv 6). The one who walks with God has a fresh smile ever, for God is with him. The blessings of God are with him wherever he goes.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham,
maker of heaven and earth, as David prayed in Psalm 23, may I not be troubled, for you are my shepherd ever watching over me and your goodness goes ahead of me!
