“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
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 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’ name.
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17/05/2024 - 18/05/2024 All day“And I in righteousness I shall see your face; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with seeing your likeness” (Psalm 17:15)
One of the defining aspects we see in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ is that He began the day with prayer. “Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). As he was always surrounded by crowds and after such a busy day before of preaching and engaging the Pharisees in debates this must have been a therapeutic moment for Christ when he would have some good time to himself.
But there was also more. For Jesus being away in a secluded place would also mean a chance to pour out His heart to God, meditate in quietness, plan for the day ahead and listen to the Father. Jesus must have looked up to this moment every day knowing its benefits. Conversations with His Father must have been real and intimate, bringing a certain soothing and uplifting of His spirit. You do not wake up and stick to something on a daily basis that is a drag – this must have been his best time of the day!
Martin Luther the leader of the protestant reformation is reputed to once have said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Here is the point. In the olden days before the arrival of locomotive transport those who were setting out for a long journey on foot had to start early with the first cock crow before the punishing sun came out. One of the things they had to start with also was a good meal, which was fuel needed to give them energy through the long walk to their destiny.
There are no rules about waking up to pray as first thing- or even saying prayer at a defined hour of the day. God is everywhere and ever with us. He is accessible at any time of the day. But there is something special about prioritizing our lives that the first thing we do is to talk to God. Just like the early traveller we need fuel, for the long day ahead!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a joy and privilege to make time at the start of any day, talk and hear from you, for the power I need through the day, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
