GOD Has a Plan for You!

GOD has a plan for you! You are not here today by accident; you are here by divine appointment. Although your life may not be pleasing to GOD at this moment, He has something far better for you. You may be going through severe trials and troubles in your life, but GOD’s plan is to draw you through those things and bring you out purified and ready to carry out His perfect plan. He has a plan and purpose for your being.

The Jews found themselves in serious trouble. They had been taken captive by the Babylonians. Their temple and royal city lay in ruins. Their situation appeared hopeless. Their future as a nation destroyed. Out of the chaos and destruction, GOD’s voice came to them through the prophet Jeremiah. GOD encouraged them to continue moving forward. Quit looking at your difficulties and troubles and focus upon the greatness GOD has purposed for you.

GOD spoke these words of encouragement and assurance to them: “For I know the plans I have for you-this is the Lord’s declaration-plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

From the Mountain High to the Valley Low!

Elijah, the prophet of GOD, had just witnessed the fire of GOD rain down on and consume 450 false prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. He was experiencing the mountain high of Almighty GOD. Life was extraordinarily powerful for him as you can read in 1 Kings 18. 

Seeking God’s Kingdom

It is interesting the extent people are willing to go to “make it big.” Whether it be big money, big fame, big house, big car—you name it—as long as it has “big” attached, it is highly sought after.

Reminds me of the steel rabbit on rails used in dog races to keep them running in the right direction. Time and again the same dogs chase after the same steel rabbit, never quite able to catch it, but never ceasing to give up either. It is a futile endeavor to chase after it but one which always entices full participation.

As bystanders, we may even recognize the futility and even laugh a bit about the stupidity of the dogs—but then again, humans have a tendancy to do the very same thing. When you look at the great lengths people will go to in order to gamble on winning a big lottery or the deep debt people will crawl in to in order to up their neighbors one, it is easy to see how many people line up every day to chase the uncatchable steel rabbit.

Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, recognized after living a futile life how worthless and meaningless it all turns out to be. Ecclesiates 2:26 records his thoughts in this way: “To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind” (NIV).

People spend their lives chasing the wind—chasing after futile things—only to discover it was all done in vain. When its all said and done, all one has is disappointment. When we place our desires upon the things of this world, we will always end up short-changed and disappointed. The Psalmist encourages us to delight ourselves in the Lord (Psalm 37:4). Jesus tells us to seek after the kingdom of GOD and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).

The world’s hope is no hope at all. Focus on Jesus and upon heavenly treasures. Quit seeking after the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and start seeking after the kingdom of GOD and the rewards eternity has in store for the faithful.

Step Out Even When Others Won’t!

We live in a society that encourages us to remain in our comfort zone. Simply find that place where you feel most secure and stay right there. Problem with that mindset is, you are never challenged to stretch your legs and discover there is a great deal more to life than the comfort zone offers.

Great scientific discoveries were made by individuals that left the zone and set out believing there was so much more. Worlds were discovered by men who went against the flow, against the better judgment of others—men who found out their dreams could become realities.

Twelve men sat in a boat rocking in a storm troubled by the adversity of the waves. A “ghost,” as they called Him, came out of the darkness towards them, bringing even greater fright upon them. Peter began to recognize that figure not as a ghost but as the Son of GOD, JESUS CHRIST!

What to do, what to do in such a situation! Faith or fright? Peter, being the adventurous one who was never quite satisified with the status quo, said: “Lord, if it’s You, command me to come to You on the water” (Matthew 14:28 HCSB). Now in human terms and apparently the thinking of the other 11, Jesus was on His way there, so just hurry up and wait! But, Peter wanted something more. He wasn’t content to just wait.

The status quo wasn’t enough. Just sitting around waiting for something to come his way wasn’t his way of doing things. He understood that if you want something great to happen, you step out and instigate it—you make it happen!

The Scripture tells us that Jesus said: “COME! And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus” (vs. 29). I would imagine as he climbed over the side, the others were trying hard to talk the crazy man back. But, he wanted more and by his faith, he got more. He got up on the water and headed out towards JESUS! Even though he suffered some failure during the experience, that experience prepared him to become the great man of GOD the early church would need as a leader.

You don’t have to stay right where you are, even if the world or your church for that matter encourages you to. They will tell you to just wait on the LORD and eventually He will lead you where He wants you to go. Millions of churchgoers have departed this life “still waiting”—slipping off into eternity with absolutely nothing to show for years of “being a Christian.”

I want to encourage you to “Step out even when others won’t!” Take that step today and discover GOD has so much more for you than simply a pew to occupy on Sunday mornings! The side of the boat may be tall, the others may be encouraging otherwise, but listen for the LORD to say “COME” and step out into a world of greatness in service to the LORD and others.

Don’t Hold Back!

Occasionally, I run across individuals who have special giftings and talents from the LORD that are so vital and necessary in today’s world and yet not being used. When confronted about the situation, the answer normally revolves around the issue of “feelings of inadequacy”—a lack of education, experience or similar reasons.  

Gaps Need Filling!

As we take a serious look at our nation today, we recognize very quickly that as a nation, we are in serious trouble. We sit and listen to those who are running as candidates to oversee our nation’s future and we quickly realize the agendas of the majority of them are not centered upon bringing our nation back to its grandeur and place of prominence worldwide that has been lost.

As I consider the state of the church in America today, I recognize why our nation is in the situation it finds itself in today. Certainly, the position of “President of the US” is extremely important and the occupier of that position should have the well-being of America at heart. Whether you agree or not, this nation was founded upon Biblical principles and standards and as such should be overseen by an individual who stands behind those principles and standards.

However, the root cause of America’s trouble today is the condition of her church. So many have sold out to political correctness, to whitewashing the gospel and the truths of the Word of God, to preaching a gospel that doesn’t offend anyone. Men are filling pulpits across America who have no spiritual calling on their lives to do so. The anointing and infilling power of the Spirit of God is not upon them. They have simply discovered an easy way to spout untruths and mistruths essentially leading people astray while lining their pockets.

The only hope for America today is for a body of true believers to rise up and fulfill the Words of the Lord that was delivered through the prophet Ezekiel. The Lord said: “I searched for a man among them who would repair the wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land so that I might not destroy it, but I found no one” (Ezekiel 22:30).

The Lord is looking for gap-men today—sold-out men and women of God who will rise up and take a stand against the evil pervading our society. Men and women who recognize the trouble the church, as well as America, are in today and refuse to allow this cycle to continue by praying, then standing up and speaking out against the evil. There are so many gaps in the wall that need filling today.

Are you one of these individuals? Do you care about the future of the church and America? Do you have what it takes to fulfill this role that is so desperately needed in America today? Prayerfully consider the message in Ezekiel 22:23-31 and how it corresponds to the plight the church and America are in today.

Keep It Up, You’re Gonna Get Burned!

As a very young boy, I had often watched my dad fix our flat bike tires by heating the area to be patched with a quick burst of fire. It made the patch stick better. One day my dad wasn’t around and I needed my tire fixed and I couldn’t get the area to be patched to catch fire so I poured a little gasoline on it. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! It burst into flames and I slung it and the burning rubber stuck to the wall of the garage. Thankfully, a man was repairing the roof of the home next door and saw what was happening and came down and put the fire out. Learned my lesson quick from that one!

The problem with sin in our lives is we often DON’T learn our lesson and continue dabbling in it. As the saying goes, “You play with fire, sooner or later you’re gonna get burned!” We press it just a little further each time trying to see just how far we can go. Nothing new about this. Jesus addressed it often in various ways. On one occasion He asked this question: “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say?“ (Luke 6:46). He is asking many in the church this same question today!

As “Christians,” we often have this idea that we walked the aisle and gave our hearts to Jesus, now we are alright to continue living on the edge—like salvation is some kind of insurance policy that guarantees us eternal life simply because we walked the aisle and repeated the words after the preacher—like I can go right on living the way of the world cuz I got Jesus now! Hmmm!!!

Salvation is a guarantee of eternal life for those whose lives are lived in accordance with GOD’s Word. When Jesus asked that question, He was trying to get the listeners, including you and I, to wake up to reality—to live in accordance to His Word in order to reap the promises of eternal life found in His Word.

Carefully consider what Paul said in Romans 2:6-8: “He will repay each one according to his works: eternal life to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but wrath and indignation to those who are self-seeking and disobey the truth, but are obeying unrighteousness” (HCSB).

Don’t get so caught up in your idea of eternal security that you think you can go right on living like the world and its ok. God’s righteous judgment is coming! He will repay those who have lived righteously with eternal life. But for those who have lived in disobedience to His laws and commands, His wrath will fall harshly. A simple word of warning: You keep it up, sooner or later you’re gonna get burned!

It’s Not My Fault, I Didn’t Know Any Better!

A young man in a class I was teaching cussed incessantly throughout the classtime. I asked him to please refrain from such language and his response was that one that has become so common in our world: “I can’t help it. It’s not my fault. If you were raised in my house with the parents I have, you would be the same way.”

Certainly, my heart goes out to this young man and so many others raised in terrible situations. I feel sad for them and the hurt they are suffering through. However, continuing to blame others for who you’ve become rather than distancing one’s self from the cycle of bad behavior is without excuse. Continuing that cycle by becoming another home that destroys another generation is without excuse. Our society is wreaked with that mindset as we see the rebellion going on in the streets; the crimes and savagery of our younger generation is appalling.

We are also without excuse when it comes down to our understanding of GOD. We like to blame others, including GOD, for who we are and what we have become. Fact is, our society has drifted overtly into such a pattern of thinking and the lives people are living are the evidence to prove so. The idea that “I didn’t know any better!” or “I can’t help how I’ve turned out!” or “My parents made me this way!” is without excuse and the society we now find ourselves in is the direct result of that mindset. 

Cleaning Up the Attic!

Have you ever given your attic a good cleaning? You work all day organizing, wiping out the dust, cleaning out the cobwebs; yet, you climb back up tomorrow only to discover the dust and cobwebs are right back. Keeping your attic clean and in order, involves a commitment to cleaning it up on a regular basis.

Keeping our hearts and minds clean is similar to cleaning up that attic. We spend time praying, confessing our faults and sins, reading GOD’s Word, living according to GOD’s standard; yet, we discover the worldly thoughts and the grime of the world have returned soon after. Discouragement can easily set in which can easily lead to complacency and a desire to just give up.

It seems it would be easier to just go back to living the old life at times. Yet, we know in our hearts that is not the answer. GOD has brought us too far to return to the old life and ways. We need to recognize that the attic of our mind simply needs a daily purging of the cobwebs and washing down by the truth of the Word. The heart needs to cleansed by the power of GOD’s Spirit.

Paul instructs us to: “not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2 HCSB). Cleaning up the attic of our mind involves two things according to Paul—determining to not be conformed to the ways of this world and determining to be transformed by the ongoing process of mind renewal.

Like cleaning up the attic, mind transformation and renewal is an ongoing process. Paul recognized this fact in his life and determined to continue moving forward. We can learn to do likewise by considering his instruction found in Philippians 3:12-14: “Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus” (HCSB).

Begin to decide today that your heart and mind are not where they should be. Decide you are going forward nevertheless. As you consider the prize of heaven, forget your past and its ways and keep pressing on to the prize ahead. Allow the Word of GOD to purge your heart and mind of this world’s ways as you continue to clean up the attic of your mind.

Go to Your Secret Place!

In the recklessness of the world we live in, it is easy to become spiritually drained. The wickedness of the world around pounds us daily with its lies, deceit and awfulness. It is easy to find ourselves so beat up from society’s evil that our spiritual being is desperately craving refreshing and renewal.

The Scripture tells us: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed” (Mark 1:34). Jesus understood the importance of finding His secret place while society was still asleep. He went there early so He could commune with His Father without any disturbances—being renewed and refreshed from His Heavenly Father.

You and I need our secret place. We need that place where we can free our lives and minds from the bombardment of the world around us. We need to find it at a time when our minds are fresh and open to all GOD desires to share with us and pour into us. It will most probably involve some personal sacrifice. But, you need it!

For too many, the secret place has become wherever the individual finds themselves when the battles begin. Rather, than preparing for the battle in advance, you wait until it begins and yourself totally unprepared. The Bible indicates a need to be prayed up and prepared—being fully clothed in the armor of GOD—with a complete understanding of Satan’s plans and tactics.

Jesus went into His secret place early and came out prepared for everything the world intended to throw at Him. You need to set up a place that becomes your secret place—a place where you and GOD can commune and He can refresh your spirit, renew your soul and prepare you for every evil that the enemy has set against you. I encourage you to go to your secret place and pray!