God has plans for your life

I was recently encouraged by an email that asked the question –“Can you mess up God’s plan for your life?” I think this is a question that many of us have asked ourselves at one time or another.

A Scripture I have often heard quoted is Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.” AMP version

God has a purpose for our lives, not a singular plan…. but He has many plans to get us to our purpose. One preacher, talking about Jeremiah 29:11, explained that the word “plans” in Hebrew actually means “purpose, destiny, invention and design.” In fact, the NKJV says, “I know the thoughts I have for you…” God doesn’t have a plan for your life, He has a purpose for your life, and He has a lot of plans to get you to your purpose. If you mess up plan A, He’s got a plan B, C and D to get you where you need to go. He can redirect and change the plan many times to meet the purpose. There is a saying: “our purpose is in us like grain is in wood.”

This understanding can take the weight of the world off our shoulders, and we can take a deep breath under the comfort of the Prince of Peace. We are able learn from our Lord and Friend, the unforced rhythms of grace.

Matthew 11:28-30 “are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly”. The Message

What a wonderful message. This is the good news of the Gospel. A relationship with our Lord and Friend, walking with Him, learning from Him; just as He did what He saw the Father doing, so we watch and do what He shows us. Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus, the Good Shepherd of our hearts. He truly is the Author and Finisher of our faith.

May we learn to walk in the unforced rhythms of Grace.

Kath