Do you have a plan for your life? Maybe the thought of making plans freaks you out. Maybe it sounds too intense to have plans. Whether you have plans or not, it’s important to realise that God has plans and if God has plans, it would be good to know what they are.
Proverbs 19:21 ESV
We can have many PLANS in our head and in our heart, but it is the PLANS AND PURPOSE of the Lord that will prevail and stand.
Proverbs 16:9 ERV
People can PLAN what they want to do, but it is the Lord who guides their steps.
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
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.
This promise was given to God’s people who were living in exile for 70 years. God wanted them to know His plans for them and their future.
As Christ followers we can move from ‘I don’t know’ (which causes anxiety) to ‘I do know’ by simply replacing the full stop in the question ‘What’s God’s Plan for my Life? And asking ourselves ‘What’s God’s plan? (full stop) and ‘I will align my life with that plan’ - this changes everything. God has not hidden his intentions for our lives. And it’s important that we remember that He is more concerned about who we are becoming rather than the job we have or where we live.
Making plans with Godly wisdom will have a positive impact in our lives and can be the difference between success or failure.
7 THINGS ABOUT GOD’S PLANS AND PURPOSES
1. WHAT IS GOD’S PLAN?
GOD’S PLAN IS TO PLACE YOU IN CHRIST
Ephesians 1:7-11 ERV: In Christ, we are made free by his blood sacrifice. We have forgiveness of sins because of God’s rich grace. God gave us that grace in full measure. With full wisdom and understanding, he revealed his SECRET PLAN. This was what God wanted, and he PLANNED to do it through Christ. God’s goal was to finish his PLAN when the right time came. He PLANNED that all things in heaven and on earth be joined together with Christ as the head. IN CHRIST, we were chosen to be God’s people. God had already PLANNED for us to be his people, because that is what he PURPOSED.
2. WHAT IS GOD’S PURPOSE?
GOD’S PURPOSE IS FOR YOU TO KNOW HIM \& TO MAKE HIM KNOW - TO BE AN AMBASSADOR FOR HIM
2 Corinthians 5:16-21 NLT: And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So, we are CHRIST’S AMBASSADORS; God is making his appeal through us.
3. WHAT IS GOD’S WILL?
GOD’S WILL IS THAT YOU BECOME LIKE CHRIST
Romans 8:29 NLT
For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become LIKE HIS SON, so that his Son would be the firstborn as an example of humanity restored among many believers.
4. WHAT IS GOD’S CALL?
GOD CALLS YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS LIGHT
1 Peter 2:9 NLT: You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he CALLED you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
5. WHAT IS GOD’S INTENTION?
GOD’S INTENTION IS THAT YOU LIVE COUNTER-CULTURE IN THIS WORLD.
2 Timothy 1:9 NLT: For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his PLAN from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT: Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s INTENTION for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
6. WHAT ARE GOD’S GIFTS?
GOD HAS GIVEN US MANY GIFTS AND HAS GIFTED ALL OF US UNIQUELY
Ephesians 4:11-12 ERV: Christ gave these GIFTS to people: He made some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to go and tell the Good News, and some to care for and teach God’s people.Christ gave these GIFTS to prepare God’s holy people for the work of serving, to make the body of Christ stronger.
Romans 12:4-8 NL: In his grace, God has given us different GIFTS for doing certain things well.
7. WHAT IS GOD’S PURPOSE FOR HIS CHURCH?
GOD’S PURPOSE FOR HIS CHURCH IS TO DISPLAY HIS WISDOM
Ephesians 3:10-12 NLT God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to DISPLAY HIS WISDOM in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. This was his ETERNAL PLAN, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.
1 Corinthians 1:24 TLB: But God has opened the eyes of those called to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, to see that Christ is the mighty power of God to save them; Christ himself is the centre of GOD’S WISE PLAN for our salvation.
NOW THAT YOU KNOW WHAT GOD’S PLANS ARE - GO FOR IT!
Colossians 2:6-7 ERV: You accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, so continue to live following him. You must depend on Christ alone, drawing life and strength from him. Just as you were taught the truth, continue to grow stronger in your understanding of it. And never stop giving thanks to God.
PERSONAL REFLECTION
- Write down the “One Thing” that stood out to you from the message. How can you see this in your day-to-day life and apply it this week? Who can you share it with?
- This week, why don’t you exercise the power of a full stop? When you notice uncertainty rising up - remember that you have been placed in Christ. You can be certain of God’s plan for you.
- Take a moment to reflect. Are there areas in your life that you have been hesitant, feeling stuck or unsure about - God has given you a green light, you can move forward!
Heavenly Father, thank You that You are a God of purpose and not confusion. Thank You that we don’t need to live with uncertainty but can know that your plans are good. Help us to know you more and to make you known. Amen.