HELEN SANDERS

1-20-2024

YOUR PLAN – OR GOD’S PLAN?

Many Christians quote Jeremiah 29:11 in the KJV which says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”  The New English Version says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” It uses the word “plans” instead of instead of the “thoughts.” The Amplified version says also uses the word “plans.”

Regardless of what version you read from it is speaking of Israel after it had been in captivity for 70 years. In verse 29:10 God tells Israel that he would visit them. He spoke through his prophets in the Old Testament because the Holy Spirit had not been poured out on all flesh that would receive Him. God had a plan for Israel, and he has a plan for you and me. That plan is for peace, not evil, to give us hope and an expected end. Israel did not follow God’s plan and ultimately was dispersed throughout the known world.

We also have a choice to go with God’s plans or our own plans. Many times, this verse is taken out of context declaring that God wants to prosper us, but in context it only will happen if we go with God’s plan for each of us individually.

Many times, we are in our “comfort zones” that God has allowed. We like things the way they are. We like where we live and go to church. We have friends and family that we see, and things are faring well. Then, God speaks to us with “His plan” which is not necessarily our plan. That is when we must make a choice. Do we stay with what is comfortable or do we go with God? Nature teaches us so much. When a mother bird knows it is time for a baby to leave the comfortable nest that has been all that baby bird knows, she will put thorns and prickers in the nest. Things don’t feel so good. It helps the baby bird make the decision to fly. It would never have left the nest if that didn’t happen.

What is happening in your life? Are you comfortable in your situation, or is God putting prickers in your “nest” of comfortability? Not all prickers come from the devil, my friends. Many times, God allows these things to move us to our next assignment. Then the choice is ours. Do we go with God’s plan, or our own? I pray that you choose wisely.

GOD BLESS YOU

RUSSELL AND HELEN SANDERS

SPIRIT OF LIFE MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL

www.spiritoflifeintl.org