Some people assign events in their lives to fate or chance or luck. That is so foolish. So shortsighted. So disenfranchising. Happily, God is willing to work in our lives and has purposes in our lives. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jer 29:11). Many folks nowadays dismiss that idea out-of-hand. But, if Christians doubt that God has plans for our lives, we need to reconsider our approach to life and worship. I'm convinced He is continually readjusting and coordinating possibilities for us, as we are constantly making our moment-to-moment choices: "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps" (Prov 6:9). God lets us choose our own path, but helps us deal with day-to-day living. As a result, our spiritual lives are very complicated, nuanced affairs and, therein, lies a necessity for continual prayer.
So, tell me to get real---that this is too mental, that you don't want to think about it in this depth. That's fine; I'm speaking mainly to myself anyway, I guess. With that, I wonder what God's overall purpose is for us? "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man" (Eccles 12:13).
God's desires for our lives include some really difficult (yet basic) requests. "So, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, . . . Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves" (Phil 2:1-4) was the way Paul stated it. Jesus put it more simply and completely disarms us by commanding us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Just try that (really try that) day-in-day-out, year-in-year-out: Talk about a challenge! God's plans for us are good, just as He is good and that makes it easy to love Him, but people are intrinsically evil and very difficult to love. That's my personal challenge; I'm critical (just one of my deficiencies) and sometimes overly demanding to the point of being merciless. But, I'm working on that weakness with the help of the Holy Spirit. At the end of my days here on earth, I would love "to be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith---that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection . . ." (Phil 3:9-10).
I completely believe that the pivotal moment in all of history occurred when Jesus was resurrected---that was it! And that is why we have a hope and a future. Our time here on this earth is troublesome---yes, indeed. Nevertheless, my Christianity is supernatural; I have a personal relationship with Him; He is actively involved in my life. "Commit your work (your life, your being) to the Lord, and your plans will be established" (Prov 16:3). Yep, I believe God has purposes for our lives and that He actually cares about us.
So, tell me to get real---that this is too mental, that you don't want to think about it in this depth. That's fine; I'm speaking mainly to myself anyway, I guess. With that, I wonder what God's overall purpose is for us? "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man" (Eccles 12:13).
God's desires for our lives include some really difficult (yet basic) requests. "So, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, . . . Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves" (Phil 2:1-4) was the way Paul stated it. Jesus put it more simply and completely disarms us by commanding us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Just try that (really try that) day-in-day-out, year-in-year-out: Talk about a challenge! God's plans for us are good, just as He is good and that makes it easy to love Him, but people are intrinsically evil and very difficult to love. That's my personal challenge; I'm critical (just one of my deficiencies) and sometimes overly demanding to the point of being merciless. But, I'm working on that weakness with the help of the Holy Spirit. At the end of my days here on earth, I would love "to be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith---that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection . . ." (Phil 3:9-10).
I completely believe that the pivotal moment in all of history occurred when Jesus was resurrected---that was it! And that is why we have a hope and a future. Our time here on this earth is troublesome---yes, indeed. Nevertheless, my Christianity is supernatural; I have a personal relationship with Him; He is actively involved in my life. "Commit your work (your life, your being) to the Lord, and your plans will be established" (Prov 16:3). Yep, I believe God has purposes for our lives and that He actually cares about us.
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