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This Week’s Devotional Topic
PLAN YOUR WORK
God has plans for us. Just as He proclaimed to His people through the prophet Jeremiah. Please hear these words and think about the context.
Jeremiah 29:10-13 This is what the LORD says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
God had a plan for His children. He knew they would go through uncertain times so He encouraged them with the fact that He has a plan. And it is for “good and not for disaster, to give you a future and hope”. Then he adds instructions that they pray, He will listen!
No doubt we have all heard the adage “Plan your work, then work your plan”. Here are some passages that help with details about our planning efforts.
Proverbs 3:5,6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Please take note of the fact that it is telling us not to “lean” on, don’t depend only on your own thoughts but certainly to use the brain, knowledge and understanding that God has given us.
Proverbs 16:9 We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.
As we plan, ask the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and help you to remember the word of God as it applies to our thoughts and plans.
John 14:25,26 I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
Ephesians 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Did you catch the last part of that verse? “proving what is acceptable to the Lord”. The Spirit will confirm in our heart plans that will be acceptable to God. And as you hold out your hands to the Lord, asking him to give you those, be sure that your hands are palms up, empty, open to what He will provide.
James 4:13-15 Go to now, ye that say, today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
Whatever you plan, plan to glorify God in it.
I Corinthians 10:31 “…whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God”.
Matthew 5:13-16 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
As you make plans for today, tomorrow, a 5-year plan or life goals, “count the cost”, not just financially, time commitment or resources but “spiritually”.
Luke 14:26-33 “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’ “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.
Dear God, please continue to reveal the plans that YOU have for us and give us peace as we pursue them. Amen
This week’s Scripture:
Jeremiah 29:10-13; Proverbs 3:5,6; 16:9; John 14:25,26; Ephesians 5:9; James 4:13-15; I Corinthians 10:31; Matthew 5:13-16 and Luke 14:26-33
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