He Has A Plan & I Am Running Forward!

Jeremiah 29:11 KJV, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”  This is one of my favorite scriptures.  Life has a way of throwing us through a loop.  Leaving us dazed, confused and wondering.  But, this scripture reassures us that when we put our lives in HIS capable hands, He will work it all out.  Life doesn’t always go the way we want it to go.  And, sometimes, we make decisions that may steer us away from the the will of God.  And, sometimes, those decisions are life changing.  But, when we get to the point that we are determined to live for God, no matter what…even if we made the wrong decisions in the past…God still has a plan for our lives.

In this verse, the Lord says, “I know the thoughts that I think toward you”.  He has a plan and a purpose that He has considered for our lives.  Yes, we may make decisions that alters the plan along the way because we are not in tune with Him like we should be…but, if we get back on track with Him, the end result will still be the same.  The plan and purpose He has for our life will still be a plan/purpose of peace (not evil) and it will still give us an expected end.

What does it means when it says “thoughts of peace and not of evil”.  According to the Hebrew Lexicon, the plan/purpose  He has for each of us is of completeness, soundness, safety, health, prosperity, tranquility and contentment.  Not  unhappiness, misery, distress, incompleteness and injury.  God didn’t plan for our lives to be filled with those things.  But, when we do not follow His leading and His will those things can become very prevalent in our lives.  But, becoming consecrated and dedicated to Him and doing His will will bring peace and all the benefits of peace into our lives.

His plan/purpose for our lives will give us an expected end.  This means that what He has planned and purposed for our lives will yield and produce hope and expectation of great things in our future. What is it that you hope to see happen in your life?  What are the things that you think about when it comes to where you want to be in your walk with God in the future?  Philippians 4:8 KJV says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”  Surround your hopes and expectation around thoughts like these and you will soar to new ands greater heights in Him in your future. 

I am thankful for the mercies of God that endure.  Even when we have made decisions in the past that didn’t line up with His will, He can still take that plan/purpose He has and reapply it to our lives, making  us into something great for Him.  As I have mentioned a lot lately, I have this driving desire to be more dedicated and consecrated to Him than ever before.  I want my thoughts and actions to line up with His Word and His will.  I am excited about where he is leading me and I am not going to let distractions get me off track.  I am running this race to the finish. 

With that last thought in mind, I want to end this post with a couple scriptures and part of the lyrics to a song we sang in church yesterday: 

Hebrews 12:1-2, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  I want  to lay aside the things that distract me, setting my eyes on the goal.  And, run with endurance without resentment and complaining of the trials and hardships I may face along the way.  But, I want to keep looking forward to Jesus, the one who originated this faith and desire in my heart and He is going to be the One who will perfect or complete it in me.

Philippians 3:14 KJV, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”  I want to keep running toward the goal in the distance.  Yes, some days it may seem that the goal line is further away than the day before, but I must keep running.  There is a reward waiting for me at the finish line with my name on it…I must keep pressing forward no matter what obstacles I face along the way. 

These lyrics seem like a good way to end this post…”I am running, running after You. You’ve become my soul’s delight.  I am running, running after You.  Here with you I find my life.”  ♥