God Knows What He is Doing!

It seems that I always get “this way” right around my birthday.  Not so much prior to 25 or even 29, but maybe since 30 I really have to guard my heart and monitor my emotions with the Word of God even more during this time. Meditating on God’s word is a must every day to maintain a “sound” mind, but there are days and times that we need the Lord and His truth so much more. 

One of the scriptures I actually keep printed out and in clear view is Jeremiah 29:11.  I particularly enjoy the Message version because it gives me a quick slap to remind me of who my God is.  Smile.  It says:
Jeremiah 29:^{10 -11} This is God’s Word on the subject: “As soon as ….. are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised …….   I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. (MSG)

You can fill in or just believe God knows when you’re “as soon as” is & should be, and that He will do just as He promises in His Word.  But the part I love is that GOD KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING!  He has our lives planned out.  As one of my good friends told me in a tough time, ‘trust the process’, we have to trust that God knows just what we need as He accomplishes His perfecting work in us. Our steps are ordered in the Lord if we are seeking His will, and He will complete what He started in us until the day of Jesus’s return.  Do you believe it?  That is the question for all of us BELIEVERS.  Do we trust what God says in His word in the midst of every situation?  It is a choice.

Today, a few days before my birthday, I choose to trust and believe that the Lord my God, Jesus the Christ plans to take care of me & not abandon me to give me the future I hope for in Him.  Amen and it is done.  So let’s walk in victory and in the abundant life God has promised us renewing our minds in the Word of God.

The Sovereignty of God

If any of you are anything like me…human, then you have experienced some things that to you were evil and harsh.  Those things could have changed your life for the worse.  They also could have caused you bodily harm or sickness.  When “life” in this world happens, it can send us down a path that we never thought we would go.  Whatever your story might be, I am sure if there was a person involved in that life changing experience, then you might have a hard time forgiving them. Sometimes that person is our self, and we have to forgive ourselves for the choices that we have made. 

As I read the story of Joseph again, these versus stand out to me and minister to me once again about the sovereignty of God.

Genesis 45:4-8 “Come closer to me,” Joseph said to his brothers. They came closer. “I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt. But don’t feel badly, don’t blame yourselves for selling me. God was behind it. God sent me here ahead of you to save lives. There has been a famine in the land now for two years; the famine will continue for five more years—neither plowing nor harvesting. God sent me on ahead to pave the way and make sure there was a remnant in the land, to save your lives in an amazing act of deliverance. So you see, it wasn’t you who sent me here but God. He set me in place as a father to Pharaoh, put me in charge of his personal affairs, and made me ruler of all Egypt. The Message

I am always so amazed at the wisdom that can come with a humble heart, perseverance and an understanding that our steps are ordered in the Lord. Is this an easy lesson to learn? Is waiting on and trusting God, no matter how hard the situation easy? Do we always see these things clearly at the beginning, and when we are going through? The answer is “NO” to all of these. But the hope is in Jesus, and the power to get to this place that Joseph gets to in Genesis 45:5 is by the Holy Spirit. God will not leave us or forsake us. He has a plan that shows that His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Join me today and in this year called 2013 as we trust God and His sovereignty more and more each day. 

Thank you Lord for your unfailing love and endless grace. Amen.