What's the Plan?

“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or

that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.

What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then

vanishes. Instead, you ought to say,

‘If it is the Lord’s will we will live and do this or that.’”

-James 4:13-15

                We are always making plans and often we forget that it is God’s will, not our own. He has his own plans with what he wants to do with us and we cannot interfere with them. Yes, we can make plans to hang out with someone or do daily tasks but we should not plan out our whole lives. We do not know what God’s plan is and everything is done in God’s perfect time. You might plan to move to Florida or California but you never know, he might have a different purpose and calling for you where he needs you somewhere else. In order to be able to follow God's plan, we must be strong in the spirit. And it will happen at the right time that he sees fit.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time.

He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they

cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

-Ecclesiastes 3:11

“Consider what God has done: who can straighten what he has made crooked?”

-Ecclesiastes 7:13

“In his heart a man plans his course, but

the Lord determines his steps.”

-Proverbs 16:9

“…for it is God who works in you to will

and to act according to his good purpose.”

-Philippians 2:13

                The Lord lets us ultimately have our own will. But if you walk in the way of the Lord you will please him. He has a plan for each and every one of us and we must choose to either go by our own plans or listen to him and let him work in us. If we choose to let him work through us, he will guide us the right way and do what is best for us and for him and his plans.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will counsel you and watch over you.”

-Psalm 32:8

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding; in all

your ways acknowledge him, and he will

make your paths straight.”

-Proverbs 3:5-6

“I am the Lord your God, who teaches you

what is best for you, who directs

you in the way you should go.”

-Isaiah 48:17

“If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm;…”

-Psalm 37:23

                God does not want any harm to come to us. In Jeremiah 29:11 he says that he only has plans to prosper us and not harm us, plans to give us hope and a future. We just need to call upon him.

“In him, we are also chosen, having been predestined according

to the plan of him who works out everything in

conformity with the purpose of his will,…”

-Ephesians 1:11

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ "


-Matthew 7:21-23

Do You Believe?

                 Christians, to this day, still face persecution and mockery from non-believers, those dead in the spirit who have not yet seen the joy that only the Lord can pour upon them. This often intimidates us and causes us to fade into the background and not disclose to many our beliefs. So what if they call me a Jesus freak? That’s right, I love Jesus and I am a Jesus freak! Just remember the reward you have waiting for you if you remain faithful. But we are not to fear men.

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.

Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

-Matthew 10:28

                I know sometimes there might be that urge to say that you are not a believer. The students at Columbine who were shot for their belief in God can be an inspiration to others. They knew they were in danger but chose to continue to pray and confess their belief when asked by the shooters if they believed in God, only to be shot. We cannot deny Jesus to the world. We will be punished for it.

“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also

acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.

But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him

before my Father in heaven.”

-Matthew 10:32

                Most of us do not face the possibility of death for our belief. All we face is mocking, which is nothing in comparison. We should be proud to bear this mockery for believing in something good and holy.

“Do not be surprised at the painful trials you are suffering,

as though something strange were happening to you.

But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so

that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because

of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the spirit of glory

and of God rests on you…However, if you suffer as a Christian, do

not be ashamed but praise God that you bear that name…”

-1 Peter :12-16

“So, do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord,…but join with me in

suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has

saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but

because of his own purpose and grace…yet I am not ashamed, because

I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able

to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.”

-2 Timothy 1:8-12

                We need to persevere through these moments. They are just trials and with God guiding us we are safe. How much greater our life in Heaven will be! All we have to do is live by God’s word and have faith in him that we will have everlasting life. How much more grace can there be? He has an abundance of grace for you and for me. No other man can give you the same grace or the same love. The scoffers are just men and cannot give you salvation.

“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves

also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered

in his body is done with sin.”

-1 Peter 4:1

                Now mind you, this does not mean that we are no longer sinners or perfect. For it is even said:

“Therefore, no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law;

rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.”

-Romans 3:20

                All that means is it is God’s discipline for our earthly body to remain faithful and obedient.

“So then, those who suffer according to God’s will

should commit themselves to their

faithful Creator and continue to do good.”

-1 Peter 4:19

                So, remember, there will always be those who choose to mock believers of God. But, don’t let them distract you and keep you back from living a holy life and spreading God’s word.

“In the last times there will be scoffers…

But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy

faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s

love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord

Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”

-Jude 18-21

                Is what one man says on Earth more important to you than what God has in store for you? Will you give up eternal life just because you want to be accepted here on earth? Jesus was not accepted; therefore the world will not accept you. But you always have a friend in Jesus and in fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We are the body and need each other to build up one another. We were not placed on this earth to please those who love the world but rather to live for God and earn a place in heaven.

 "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.

What can man do to me?"

-Hebrews 13:6