God’s Plans (Nov 29)

Verses for the day

• Hos 1:7 But I will show love to the people of Judah. I will free them from their enemies—not with weapons and armies or horses and charioteers, but by my power as the LORD their God.”
• John 5:19, 30 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. (30) I can do nothing on my own
• Prov 16:3-4 Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed. The LORD has made everything for his own purposes, even the wicked for a day of disaster.
• Prov 16:9 We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.

Thoughts

I am always amazed how the Father weaves together lessons for me from His Word each day. When I take the time to sit down and write out the verses that stand out to me, then pray through them, the lesson emerges. That’s exactly what happened this morning. Normally Hosea 1, John 5 and Proverbs 16 would not be passages i would put together to try and teach something from. But, there is definitely a theme today.

• Hos 1:7 – We can’t accomplish anything with weapons, armies or horses. It’s only by His power that we can do anything. He said in John 15:5 without me you can do nothing. But, with you, Paul says, we can do anything. (Phil 4:13)

• That was Jesus testimony of Himself in John 5:19, 30. “The Son can do nothing of Himself. He does only what He sees the Father doing…” I can do nothing on my own..
• We can make all the plans we want, but if God isn’t involved, our plans won’t accomplish anything. (Prov 16:9)
• Everything we are doing, we should be committing to Him.
• Prov 16:3-4 “Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed. The LORD has made everything for his own purposes, even the wicked for a day of disaster.” Remember what Job said in Job 23:13-14? But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind? Whatever he wants to do, he does. So he will do to me whatever he has planned. He controls my destiny.
• I can make all the plans I want, but it’s what God wants to do that matters.
• What has God planned for us? Here’s some verses that stood out when I read through Jeremiah.
  • (Jer 24:6-7) I will watch over and care for them, and I will bring them back here again. I will build them up and not tear them down. I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them hearts that recognize me as the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me wholeheartedly.
  • Jer 29:11 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.
  • Jer 31:3-4 I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself. I will rebuild you, my virgin Israel.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us today to first and foremost to be committing all of our plans and activities to you. Prov 3:5-6 reminds us to trust you and not depend on our own understanding, but to seek your will in all we do. Thank you that we can depend on you and we can rely on your power to accomplish your work. May you help us to follow the example of Christ who committed himself to be only doing what you were determined to do through Him. He was completely available for you to use his hands and feet, eyes, ears and mouth, in everything He did, and at all times.

Father thank you that your plans are to watch over and take care for us, to give us a heart that recognizes and seeks after you, to build us and plant us where we can produce fruit for you. Lord, help us to desire what you want for us over our own desires, plans and agendas today, so that just like Jesus, what we accomplish will be the Father in us doing the work!