BIG PLANS

For I know the plans that I have
for you, declares the Lord, plans for
welfare and not for calamity to give
you a future and a hope.
Then you will call upon Me and
come and pray to Me, and I will
listen to you
You will seek Me and find me
when you search for Me with all
your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NASB)

When most young couples find they are expecting their first baby, they begin planning. Even before the baby's birth, parents are still planning and not just for the nursery. Plans for that baby are wrapped up in dreams regarding the future of their child. Even into adulthood, parents have dreams for their children even when grown. It's when all of us reached the point of making our own plans and decisions we came up against some difficulties. Human speaking, there is NO perfect plan we can make on our own behalf or on behalf of another.

As I read in the Old Testament, it amazes me over and over as I see God's patience with His people. Their spiritual walk with Him always seemed to be for them at a peak or at the bottom of a sand dune. It's hard to be critical of them when we, too, push at the patience of God with our disappointing ways. God had to take drastic measures with His people even to the point of allowing them to go into exile, far away from their homeland just to get their attention.

God, however, didn't give up on His people and stuck to His promises regarded their future. By the way, His promises reach down to us this very day from that time and aren't we glad. In the timing of our above verses, God's people were returned to their land. They weren't to give up in times of hardship, but know that God had their best interest at heart for the duration.

Anyone who has raised children understands the disappointment when a child chose a way that spelled disaster in so many ways. The parents see the disaster coming and may beg, plead and pray for a change in the mind of that child, but it seems to no avail. I have known very few parents who have gone through such experiences, but who welcomed that child back to the fold when pieces of a life needed put back together. It seems God was always doing this for his people. At times, they were grateful while at other times, showed an ingratitude by returning to their idols and immoral living.

God spoke to His people in Jeremiah, again with hopes and dreams for their future. In His planning, He hoped to provide for their welfare and to provide a future and hope. That was the promise from their Sovereign God who could do anything on their behalf He chose.

God asked so little of them in this process. He asked them to come and call on Him and pray. He promised to always listen to their prayers. In this seeking process though, He required that they approach Him with their whole beings...their whole heart. He wanted a people with sincerity to respect Him, their Heavenly Father, to never have a frivolous attitude in their attitude or approach to Him.

God desires the very same of each of us. There have been times I have been in a distant place from God. Many of us have had times in our lives when God had to put some pieces back together with his “love putty.” We can't accept this loving help wanting just a reprieve from the world. He seeks our sincerity not our self interest. He will settle for nothing less than our complete devotion.

Today, God hasn't changed, nor His promises. He is always looking out for our best interest because of a love for us we can never fathom. When God says He has plans, we've come to know He has plans for us that cannot be comprehended and that are rarely appreciated. Some people promise us outlandish things we know can't come to be, but not with God. When He promises our welfare, hope and future, all can be accepted as fact.

Mans plans and efforts at self direction will always be second best, or even lower than that. We might find a temporary satisfaction in seeking our own way. In the end, our plans will never fully satisfy. God already has our plans made in every area of our lives. He not only has made the plans for you and me but also sends His agents to aid us with the details. In the end, God's way will always be the best way. We are told He is available to talk things over with us at any time. With His guiding hand, listening ear and heart of love, how can we go wrong?

Thank You Father for knowing us so well and knowing what is best for us in every area of our lives. Keep us close to You and open to Your will and way for our lives. Thank You for loving us despite our erring ways. Thank You for Jesus. In whose name I pray...Amen