The Plan of God!

‘“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. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”’ – Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV

The context of Jeremiah 29:11-13 is for the Isarelites who were carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. However these verses relate to us today, especially for those of us who are worried about future. This is because God knows everything (Romans 11:33-36)—the past, the present and the future—since God is Righteous Creator (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 24:1) and the word of God states, ‘“I am the Alpha and the Omega--the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come--the Almighty One.”’ (Revelation 1:8) Therefore, we have to put our trust in Him, as Proverbs 3:5-8 declares,

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

This does not mean that we have to give up everything and become missionaries, since God has given us the Great Commission to do (Matthew 28:18-20) and all of us have actually been created to be His image (Genesis 1:27; Romans 8:29-30). What God really cares about is that whether we are going to spend our wages or salaries for His glory and His eternal kingdom. “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:16-17) In addition to this, all of us have to be Christians who evangelize people to Jesus Christ—wherever we are at (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:7-14)

Furthermore, worry is sin if concern fell into worry as worry leads us into anxiety and then depression. This is because if we fell into depression, we might think there is going to be no point in living our lives anymore. This is probably the reason why the word of God states, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7) Therefore, let us put our trust in Him and go with flow of the Spirit of God as Romans 8:28 proclaims, “…we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25-34)

As for me, I am concerned about my future—how to provide myself and others financially, even though I want to be a Christian Writer. This is because I know that being a Christian Writer is the will of God for me, due to the fact that the Holy Spirit is leading me in the knowledge of God as I start to write devotionals. I just want to hear that others are being encouraged spiritually everyday. I actually have no idea how to become a Christian Writer but I trust that the Holy Spirit is guiding me right now and forevermore.