it is always better…

GOD’s plan for your life is always better.  when you cooperate with GOD’s plan for your life you can relax and you can stop being overwhelmed.

GOD looks at your life from an eternal perspective, not just the here and now.  GOD will always sacrifice short-term comfort in your life in order to gain long term glory in your life.  GOD will sacrifice short-term comfort in order to build character in your life that’s going to bless you for eternity.  GOD is not interested in making you comfortable.  GOD is interested in preparing you for eternity where you’re going to spend gazillions of years.  HE knows what’s best and HE knows what’s good and HE loves you.  that’s why being overwhelmed can actually be good for you.  it throws you to your knees saying, “GOD, i’m going to have to depend on you.”  and GOD says, “that’s exactly where I want you!

just a thought from the front porch…

be flexible in your plans...

we need to be flexible in our plans.

wrong attitude: presumption. that's when i say, “i don't need GOD and i can figure it all out. i know exactly what i'm going to do.” i just assume that everything is going to go the way it's intended to go, that's presumption.

the bible says that since life is uncertain we should not presume on it. james 4.13-15 (niv), now listen, you who say “today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make money.” why, you don't even know what will happen tomorrow! instead, you ought to say, “if it is the LORD's will, we will live and do this or that.”

it's ok to make plans as long as you understand that they are tentative. a mature person makes his plans flexible. some people make plans and if anything varies in the plan they get an ulcer. mature faith is changeable. i make plans but i realize ultimately that GOD calls the shots in my life.

right attitude: cooperation. i include GOD in my goal setting. how? you pray. anything without prayer is presumption.

instead of saying, “GOD, i want you to bless what i'm doing” we should say, “GOD, help me to do what you're blessing.”

people used to write at the end of letters “dv” which stands for DEO vilente – “GOD willing.” “i'm going to come see you LORD willing. i realize that ultimately my plans may be changed.” that's the right attitude.

proverbs 16.9 (tev), we should make plans counting on GOD to direct us. that's cooperation. make plans but realize they are tentative. GOD, what do you want me to do? pray about your plans. ask him for wisdom.

since GOD is in control my plans have a limit.

just a thought from the front porch…