Some of us have to see it, to believe it. We have to have the proof. We want the reassurance of research, so that we feel comfortable before making a decision. I am like that. I like to analyze every possible outcome before making a decision, especially the important ones. It just makes me feel more comfortable. It feels safer that way.
But one thing that I have realized is that regardless of my own research, I can never know what lies ahead in my life. I used to pride myself in making plans, but then I realized that plans never really work out. You know what I mean. You might have made a plan that you would have a house by a certain age. Or maybe you would be married and have kids by the time you were thirty. Maybe you are married, and you had planned to live a fairy tale life. Whatever the plan was, I bet things didn’t go as expected. Don’t get me wrong, plans are great, and even necessary, but it is dangerous to put your hope in the plans that you have made. Because we can never really understand the greater plan that God has for our lives. And His plan, includes twists and turns that we’ll never see coming. And, if we are honest, our plan avoid all of those things. We avoid the rough seasons, and hard times. We leave the valleys out of our plans. But, it is in those times, that God does His best work. When we are at our lowest, when we are weak, He is strong. God uses our valleys to prepare us for the mountaintop.
And in my life, I realized that my fixation on planning, was getting in the way of what God wanted to do in me, and for me.
Our plans can not take the place of God in our lives.
What happens when God asks us to step out in faith? Do we take the leap and trust Him, or do we take our own steps because His instruction fails to fit in with our plans?
We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. (Proverbs 16:9 NLT)
Although we might have our lives planned out, the Lord must order our steps. He is the only one that knows where we are going. He knows the wrecks that are up ahead; He knows how to navigate us through them.
Have you noticed that He never gives us the whole plan? I believe that this is because He knows that we would try our best to make it there on our own. But, He wants us to depend on Him. He wants to prepare the way for us.
“See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you…”(Exodus 23:20 NLT)
Before Jesus began His ministry, God sent a man to prepare the way for Him. He sent John the Baptist to testify about Him.
God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. (John 1:6-7 NLT)
John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’” (John 1:15 NLT)
And hundreds of years earlier, God sent another messenger, the prophet Isaiah. He testified that there would be a man, sent to prepare the way for the Messiah.
Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God! Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places. Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. The Lord has spoken!” (Isaiah 40:3-5 NLT)
If God had to prepare the way for Jesus, what makes us think that He doesn’t have to prepare the way for us.
Remember, Jesus is our example. He came to this earth and showed us how to walk according to His ways. Why do you think He got baptized? It wasn’t because He needed to show the world that He was born again; He lived a perfect, sinless life. But this was the Father’s plan. And I believe that this was meant to set an example, so that we would do the same.
Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires. ” So John agreed to baptize him. (Matthew 3:13-15 NLT)
In the same way, I believe that Jesus was setting the example in submitting to God’s preparation for Him. Just think about it. Jesus knew the plan. He knew that He was the Son of God, the One that was sent here to save all of humanity. Yet, still, He would not move outside of His heavenly Father's timing. In the bible, we never see Jesus rush anywhere. In fact, He repeatedly said that His time had not yet come. He knew that there would be a time to reveal His divinity to the whole world, but He was committed to doing it in His Father’s timing.
“Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” (John 2:4 NLT)
You go on. I’m not going to this festival, because my time has not yet come.” (John 7:8 NLT)
Jesus boldly walked in His purpose, but He did so quietly. He was not seeking fame. His only goal was to glorify His Father in heaven. And, He knew that the attention that would result in getting ahead of the Father, would only cause unnecessary trouble for His ministry.
Jesus knew the importance of submitting to the Father. He knew that everything hinged on obedience. We should follow His example.
When we move outside of God's will, it causes us to carry the burden of our decisions, and we end up dealing with unnecessary stress.
Have you ever been in a place where you felt like nothing you did worked out? Like everywhere you turned, was bad news? The place where you feel like the weight of the world was on your shoulders, yet, you had no ability to move forward? It feels like you are walking against the grain, without the resources to do what you need to do.
I don’t mean the kind of spiritual resistance the comes when we walk according to God’s will. Because when we walk in His will, there will be resistance, but we will still have His presence. We will still have His favor. When we are doing what God asks of us, we might feel like we are walking against the grain of society, or contrary to our abilities; but, God’s grace get us to where we are trying to go. He carries us. Because God always provides for His will.
When we walk with Him, He will always provide the things that we need, when we need them.
But, there can be times when we are moving so fast, that we get outside of God's timing. Or, times when we make decisions that are outside of God’s will for our lives. And when we are going in that direction, the direction that is contrary to God’s plan, we bear the burden of providing for ourselves. We are left to figure out how to get to our next destination, alone.
When it came time for the Israelites to enter the promised land, Moses told them not to be discouraged. He encouraged them to move forwards in faith, and occupy the land that God had given them.
Look! He has placed the land in front of you. Go and occupy it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. Don’t be afraid! Don’t be discouraged!’ (Deuteronomy 1:21 NLT)
The Israelites were afraid to enter an unknown land, so they decided that they would send scouts in first. They wanted to find the best, or safest, route to take. But, when the scouts returned, the majority of them reported that the current occupants were too strong for them to defeat.
“But you rebelled against the command of the Lord your God and refused to go in. You complained in your tents and said, ‘The Lord must hate us. That’s why he has brought us here from Egypt—to hand us over to the Amorites to be slaughtered. (Deuteronomy 1:26-27 NLT)
Instead of trusting that God would lead them into the promised land, as He had led them through the wilderness, they decided to make a plan. And instead of their plan aiding them in faith, it only led them to fear entering into the promise that they had been believing for. Ultimately, their decision resulted in their lack of faith. They no longer believed that God would provide for, and protect, them. And because of their lack of faith, God forbid them from entering into the promised land.
“When the Lord heard your complaining, he became very angry. So he solemnly swore, ‘Not one of you from this wicked generation will live to see the good land I swore to give your ancestors,…” (Deuteronomy 1:34-35 NLT)
Once the Israelites learned about the consequences of their lack of faith, they realized that they had made a mistake. And they decided that they would correct that mistake by obeying God’s instructions to occupy the promised land. Only, for them, it was too late. Moses told the Israelites that God had instructed them not to attack the occupants of the promised land. Moses told them that God's presence would not be with them. But, again, the Israelites were disobedient; they decided to fight anyways.
“But the Lord told me to tell you, ‘Do not attack, for I am not with you. If you go ahead on your own, you will be crushed by your enemies.’ “This is what I told you, but you would not listen. Instead, you again rebelled against the Lord’s command and arrogantly went into the hill country to fight. But the Amorites who lived there came out against you like a swarm of bees. They chased and battered you all the way from Seir to Hormah. (Deuteronomy 1:42-44 NLT)
At this point in their journey, the Israelites were outside of God’s will. Not just because of their lack of faith, but because of their disobedience. God had given them instruction to enter the land that He had given them, in faith. He expected them to trust His plan, because His presence had been leading them for years. He expected them to trust that He would protect them, that He would fight for them, and that He would provide all of their needs. But, instead, they decided to trust in their own plan. And their decision to go their own way, and lean on their own understanding, caused them their future.
There will always be consequences when we make the decision to live outside of God’s will. But in His grace, God allows us a chance to turn back to Him. He sits on high, waiting to welcome us back with arms wide open, so that He can show compassion to us. Through the finished work of Jesus Christ, He redeems our past, and He restores the things that have been broken, and lost. When we repent, and turn from our ways to follow Him, His grace puts us right back in the middle of His will. This is where we find His instruction, and His protection. This is where we find His provision.
If you are doing what God told you to do, if you are in the middle of His will, He will move heaven and earth to take care of you.
He will use avenues that you didn’t even know existed. He will use complete strangers, and people that you have been estranged from for years, to get resources to you. In Elijah’s case, He used birds.
“Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.” (1 Kings 17:3-4 NLT)
This is why the scriptures say to seek first His kingdom, and His righteousness, and He will provide everything that you need.
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:33-34 NLT)
Everything does not only include the food and water that you need for the day. But He will provide the finances that you need, and the resources that you need to get His will done. He will provide the strength and peace that you need daily. He will provide you with patience daily.
But remember, that He doesn't always provide us with what we want. He provides us with what we need. In the times that you feel like you are lacking in the things that you desire, turn to Him. He creates this space for us. He always leaves a gap in our lives, so that we can be filled with His presence. And know, that your wait has a time limit, because He gave you the desires of your heart. He always delivers.
This is your time to rest in Him. And while you are seeking Him, He is preparing the promise that He has for you. He is unlocking the doors for you to walk through.
God gives us just enough for today.
What has God given you today? What has he put in your hands? It might seem small, but that little piece is vital to the plan that He has for you. Today, He will prepare you for tomorrow. And your obedience, will lead to growth, preparation, and readiness. So trust His plan. Trust His timing. Allow Him to prepare the way for you.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for the plans that you have for me. Your plans are to prosper me, and not to harm me. They are to give me hope for my future. Forgive me Father, for any time that I have gone outside of your will to follow my own plans. Right now, I choose to submit my plans to you, and to allow you to order my steps. I want your will for my life, and I know that that comes from being obedient to your voice. Holy Spirit, lead me daily, and when I get off course, redirect me to the path that you have set before me. Thank you for covering me, for providing for me, and for preparing the way for me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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