Colossians 1:9 ” For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His Will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”

This would be my prayer for you today also.  That the Lord would accomplish in your life His plan and purpose… and you would be able to grasp the concept and see the relationship between knowing God and living for Him.  You know God to live…in other words, you put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ which  leads to eternal life.  But then, you live to know God…that is,  you continue to faithfully walk with God,  which develops this close, intimate relationship that only grows deeper every day.  I pray that you would know God to live, and live to know God.  Amen.

We’ve got to live: Mindfully of His plan.

In Philippians 2:13 it says, “For it is God Who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.”  The Lord has a specific plan and purpose for each one of us.  He takes our gifts, talents, and passions…which are totally unique to just us,  and executes a perfect plan for our life.  Our job is to be ever cognizant of His leading, listening to that still small voice, and following the path laid out before us.

Job 42: 1-2 ” Then Job replied to the Lord: ‘ I know that You can do all things; no plan of Yours can be thwarted.’ “

Job recognized and understood that the plans and purposes of the Lord couldn’t be stopped.  In Matthew 19:26,  Jesus made the statement that, “with God all things are possible.”  This wasn’t a qualifying statement.  Rather,  when He said all,  He meant all.  Oh that we could have the same kind of discernment that Job had…the same kind of boldness,  that when God says all things are possible, we know He means it.  For God is a promise-making God…but more importantly, He’s a promise fulfilling God.

Proverbs 15:2 ” The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. “

God first wants to work in you,  before He works through you.  Remember that your journey with the Lord is  a marathon not a sprint when you get impatient.  Don’t lose hope in the middle of God shaping you into what you need to be…for only then you can be the most effective for His unique plan and purpose in your life.

Isaiah 25:1 “O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness You have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.”

God has a plan and purpose for your life.  It was formulated before the creation of time.  He has put in place wonderful and miraculous things in order for you to accomplish it.  He is trustworthy and steadfast in  His objectives for you…never wanting you to fail.  You may think God can’t use you…but you are oh so wrong.  You are exactly what He’s looking for…you have been placed on this earth at this very moment in time to accomplish great things in His name.

John 2: 25 ” He did not need man’s testimony about man, for He knew what was in a man.”

We seldom do something for others totally out of unselfish motives…for usually we have some hidden agenda, whether good or bad.   We’ll do some kind gesture,  with the inner thought of,  “what’s in this for me?”  Or we’ll go out of our way for someone, hoping others will see our sacrifice and praise us for all our hard work.  The Lord knows our thoughts and examines our hearts and will immediately  show us when our motivation is wrong.  For God can bear witness to what lies within all humans…every self-seeking, egocentric, greedy fiber and part.

Isaiah 1: 19-20 ” If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Yielding our will to God is not easy…for compliance never comes without internal struggle.  But if we listen to Him…understanding that it’s for our own good that He’s directing us that way…and then obey the message we’ve heard…God will work all things out for our good.  Along this same line, Job 36:11 says, “If they obey and serve Him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity  and their years in contentment.”  Simple obedience…sometimes hard to do, but oh so beneficial.

Ephesians 1:11 ” In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will…”

You are not a mistake.  No matter what people tell you, God’s divine Will included you as an important part in this world.  He has a unique purpose for your life here on earth…your birth was foreordained by Him…He knew you before you were even conceived.  You are not a mistake, but a valuable part of God’s plan.