A Plan and a Purpose
With the World celebrating a non-biblical holiday; Valentine’s Day, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about destiny. Who’s destiny? Our destiny!
If you believe in destiny, it means that you believe God has a plan and a purpose for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to give you a hope and a future.”
Take heed that God says HE knows the plans HE has for us……but remember also, "the Bible teaches that man was created with the ability to make choices and that he is responsible for those choices.
"The Fall of Man was not a predetermined event in which Adam and Eve were hapless victims of a Puppet-Master God. On the contrary, Adam and Eve had the ability to choose obedience (blessing) or disobedience (curse). They knew what the result of their decision would be, and they were held accountable. We find this account in Genesis Chapter 3.**
"This theme of being held accountable for our choices continues throughout Scripture. “He who sows wickedness reaps trouble” Proverbs 22:8. “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” Proverbs 14:23. “Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.” Romans 13:3.**
"Let’s not get the wrong idea; we are not the sovereign masters of our fate. Only God is sovereign. His sovereign control is called “providence.” He has chosen to give us a free will, and He has created a moral universe in which the law of cause-and-effect is a reality. But God is God alone, and there are no “accidents” in the world.**
"God is all-wise and all powerful so He must have a plan, so it should be no surprise that the Bible speaks of a divine plan. God’s plan, since it belongs to God, is holy, wise, and benevolent. The providence of God is working to bring about His original plan for creation.**
Psalm 138:8 “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever, do not abandon the works of your hands.”
God acknowledges an individual plan for each of us but He also warns because we are in the world, there will be tribulation and that we will have choices to make during these times.
:"Fighting against the plan of God is pointless. “ that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation but take courage; I have overcome the world."
"Fighting against the plan of God is pointless. “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.” Proverbs 21:30. This is why the Tower of Babel was never completed and why Daniel’s enemies were thrown to the lion’s den and why Jonah spent time inside the belly of a huge fish, and why we get in trouble when we sin or make choices outside of God’s will and plan for us.** "Even what we would normally call “chance” or “fate” is under God’s control. “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.” Proverbs 16:33. In other words, God does not take a “hands-off” approach to running the world.**
"Everything that happens in the world is made to work out according to God’s purpose. Evil exists, but it is not allowed to thwart God’s providence. God uses even sinful men for His purposes. “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.” Proverbs 21:1. God worked in the hearts of the Egyptians Exodus 12:36 and King Artaxerxes Ezra 7:27 to bring about His purpose. Even when man’s intent is purely evil, God can still bring about His will, as in the case of those who crucified Yeshua. Acts 2:23; 4:27-28.**
"God’s plan includes a reward for those who trust in Him, and He promises to glorify His children. “We speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. . . . As it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him’” 1Corinthians 2:7-9. Note the use of the word destined in this passage—and that it’s a destiny based on our love for the Lord.**
"The Bible teaches that God is in charge. At the same time, He has given us the freedom to obey or disobey Him. God blesses the obedient, and He is patient with those who disobey, even to the point of seeming laxity. He has a plan for our lives, which includes our joy and His glory both in this world and in the world to come. Those who accept Messiah as Savior have accepted God’s plan, From then on, it’s a step-by-step following of God’s best for us, praying for His will to be done, and avoiding the sidetrack of sin.**
Numbers 23:19 "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent; has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”
When God tells us He has a plan, a purpose, and a destiny for us, we would do well to believe Him and live our lives out according to the destiny He has for us.
Dear God, help us to make choices which are in alignment with your plan for our lives and not to choose based on our own feelings or thoughts or emotions. We believe, forgive our unbelief. Thank you, God, for your sovereignty. Amen. Blessings to you with love,
Joyce
**Quoted and Paraphrased: See https://www.gotquestions.org/fate-destiny.html