Jeremiah 29:11-13 (New International Version)
11 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.
12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
- - - 0 0 0 - - -
God’s Vision for You
God’s plan for the people of the nation of Israel was only for their good. Yet they wandered around in the wilderness for forty years on what was actually an eleven-day journey. Why? Was it their enemies, their circumstances, the trials along the way, or something entirely different that prevented them from arriving at their destination in a timely manner?
God called the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt to go to the land He had promised to give them as a perpetual inheritance – a land that flowed with milk and honey and would be no shortage of anything they needed – a land of prosperity in every realm of their existence.
But the Israelites had no positive vision for their lives – no dreams. They knew where they came from, but they did not know where they were going. Everything was based on what they had seen in the past or what they could presently see. They did not know what to see with “the eye of faith.”
We really shouldn’t view the Israelites with astonishment, because most of us do the same thing over and over again. The disappointing result is that it takes us years to experience victory over something that could have and should have been dealt with quickly.
I come from a background of abuse. My childhood was filled with fear and torment, and my personality was a mess! I built up walls of protection to keep people from hurting me, not realizing that while I was locking others out, I was also locking myself in. I was filled with fear, and believed that the only way I could face life was to be in control so no one could hurt me.
As a young adult trying to live for Christ and follow the Christian lifestyle, I knew where I had come from, but I did not know where I was going. I felt that my future would always be marred by my past, I thought, ‘How could anyone with a past like mine ever be all right? It’s impossible!’
But Jesus had a different plan. He said,
God called the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt to go to the land He had promised to give them as a perpetual inheritance – a land that flowed with milk and honey and would be no shortage of anything they needed – a land of prosperity in every realm of their existence.
But the Israelites had no positive vision for their lives – no dreams. They knew where they came from, but they did not know where they were going. Everything was based on what they had seen in the past or what they could presently see. They did not know what to see with “the eye of faith.”
We really shouldn’t view the Israelites with astonishment, because most of us do the same thing over and over again. The disappointing result is that it takes us years to experience victory over something that could have and should have been dealt with quickly.
I come from a background of abuse. My childhood was filled with fear and torment, and my personality was a mess! I built up walls of protection to keep people from hurting me, not realizing that while I was locking others out, I was also locking myself in. I was filled with fear, and believed that the only way I could face life was to be in control so no one could hurt me.
As a young adult trying to live for Christ and follow the Christian lifestyle, I knew where I had come from, but I did not know where I was going. I felt that my future would always be marred by my past, I thought, ‘How could anyone with a past like mine ever be all right? It’s impossible!’
But Jesus had a different plan. He said,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,” (Luke 4:18).
Jesus came to open the prison doors and set the captives free – and that included me. However, I did not make any progress until I started to believe that I really could be set free. I had to get rid of my negative thinking and replace it with a positive vision for my life. I had to believe that neither my past nor my present could determine my future. Only then could Jesus free me from the bondage of my past – and free me, He did. What a marvelous miracle! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
You may have had a miserable past as well; you may even be in current circumstances that are very negative and depressing. You may be facing situations that are so bad that it seems you have no real reason to hope. But I say to you boldly: Your future is not determined by your past or your present!
You may have had a miserable past as well; you may even be in current circumstances that are very negative and depressing. You may be facing situations that are so bad that it seems you have no real reason to hope. But I say to you boldly: Your future is not determined by your past or your present!
Most of the generation the Lord called out of Egypt never entered into the Promised Land. Instead, they died in the wilderness. To me, this is one of the saddest things that can happen to a child of God – to have so much available and yet never be able to enjoy any of it.
Start believing that God’s Word is true. Mark 9:23 assures you that with God all things are possible. Because you serve a God who created everything you see out of the unseen realm (see Hebrews 11:3), you can give Him your nothingness and watch Him go to work on your behalf. All you have to do if have faith in Him and believe His Word – He will do the rest! Just believe in Him!
Start believing that God’s Word is true. Mark 9:23 assures you that with God all things are possible. Because you serve a God who created everything you see out of the unseen realm (see Hebrews 11:3), you can give Him your nothingness and watch Him go to work on your behalf. All you have to do if have faith in Him and believe His Word – He will do the rest! Just believe in Him!
Let’s pray:
“Dear Father in heaven, I thank You for loving me so much and for having a vision and a good plan for my life. I pray that You will help me overcome any negative thoughts of problems, past or present, that come against my mind, and make my life what You want it to be. I believe in you and I had received Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. Today I ask you that you take away all the fears that Satan had used against me. In Jesus’ Holy name I pray. Amen!”
“Dear Father in heaven, I thank You for loving me so much and for having a vision and a good plan for my life. I pray that You will help me overcome any negative thoughts of problems, past or present, that come against my mind, and make my life what You want it to be. I believe in you and I had received Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. Today I ask you that you take away all the fears that Satan had used against me. In Jesus’ Holy name I pray. Amen!”
(By J. Meyer)
1 comment:
Dear reader,
This is so true for a lot of us today. Just as of the Israelites were wandering around in the wilderness to obtain the promise land; we do the same when we side track by all of our circumstances in life which prevent us from obtaining the promises of God. I often wonder how many times we have been so close to enter into his promises/plans and not being able to obtain it because of not letting go of what is it was left behind or our past.
In the beginning of this new year 2010 our pastor began preaching from Philippians 3:12-14(read this verses) and the title of the message was FORGETTING, STRAINING AND PRESSING, oh my Lord what a powerful message. And although I not going to go through all of was it was preached, one thing I would like to share and please remember:
Forgetting of what is behind…..
Straining of what is ahead and…
Pressing on for the mark…….
I would like to also share this beautiful word of GOD….
Jer 29:11 "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." ...
Be Blessed, and we will be praying for you…..
Linda Manary
Post a Comment