Returning from church and pulling into the driveway, I saw that all of the cows were lying down; which, reminds me of a story. A traveler and a farmer were having a conversation. The farmer assured the traveler that he could tell what the weather was going to be by watching his cows. If they were lying down, it was going to rain. If they were standing up, it wasn't. The traveler asked, "What happens if only half of them are lying down?" The farmer replied, "It means half of them are wrong."
Predicting the weather is about as ridiculous as predicting your future. But, many people are consumed with trying to map our their own destiny. They have forgotten, or maybe they never knew, that their is One who has a plan bigger than ours. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)
That assurance alone should put one on the path to finding out what the Lord's plans are. Joshua, from the Old Testament book of Joshua, was spoken to by God. In the opening verses of Chapter 1, He tells Joshua that he, Joshua, will lead the Israelites across the Jordan river. In verses 3, 4, and 5 he learns that all that his foot will tread upon will be given to him for the people. God even assures him that He, God, will not fail him nor forsake him. Be strong and of good courage. (Joshua 1:6)
We're modern-day believers but we receive the same message, "I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of good courage." God has a plan which is really, really big. It's the destiny of the world and the ultimate outcast of evil. And all of us are a part of that plan. Yes, we have a part to play. God in His goodness has given us a choice: we can either seek and find the plan He has for us or we can go on our way and do a plan ourselves. The only thing is, if you decide to make your own plan, you won't be part of the plan God has specifically for you. You're the only one like you. That was on purpose. God fashioned you to carry out your part of the plan. Should you turn it down, God will find someone else. His plan is going to be carried out regardless.
Choose to go with The Plan. Get into church. Study the Bible. Pray. Pray. Pray. Again, He will remind you, "Be strong and of good courage." (Joshua 1:9) Why is that? Like my father used to say, "God didn't promise you a bed of roses." There will be challenges, others who will tempt you away from your part. Old Satan has no desire for The Plan to work. It means his destruction.
The Israelites listened to Joshua. They said they would follow him just as they did Moses. They knew that Moses was part of God's plan. And now, they knew the same with Joshua. Very 17 spells it out. They are going with Joshua because the Lord is with him just as the Lord was with Moses. They see God's plan and they are doing their part by following it. We see it again in verse 18, "only be strong and of a good courage." It was said three times in this chapter. Remember it when following God's plan.
Predicting the weather is about as ridiculous as predicting your future. But, many people are consumed with trying to map our their own destiny. They have forgotten, or maybe they never knew, that their is One who has a plan bigger than ours. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)
That assurance alone should put one on the path to finding out what the Lord's plans are. Joshua, from the Old Testament book of Joshua, was spoken to by God. In the opening verses of Chapter 1, He tells Joshua that he, Joshua, will lead the Israelites across the Jordan river. In verses 3, 4, and 5 he learns that all that his foot will tread upon will be given to him for the people. God even assures him that He, God, will not fail him nor forsake him. Be strong and of good courage. (Joshua 1:6)
We're modern-day believers but we receive the same message, "I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of good courage." God has a plan which is really, really big. It's the destiny of the world and the ultimate outcast of evil. And all of us are a part of that plan. Yes, we have a part to play. God in His goodness has given us a choice: we can either seek and find the plan He has for us or we can go on our way and do a plan ourselves. The only thing is, if you decide to make your own plan, you won't be part of the plan God has specifically for you. You're the only one like you. That was on purpose. God fashioned you to carry out your part of the plan. Should you turn it down, God will find someone else. His plan is going to be carried out regardless.
Choose to go with The Plan. Get into church. Study the Bible. Pray. Pray. Pray. Again, He will remind you, "Be strong and of good courage." (Joshua 1:9) Why is that? Like my father used to say, "God didn't promise you a bed of roses." There will be challenges, others who will tempt you away from your part. Old Satan has no desire for The Plan to work. It means his destruction.
The Israelites listened to Joshua. They said they would follow him just as they did Moses. They knew that Moses was part of God's plan. And now, they knew the same with Joshua. Very 17 spells it out. They are going with Joshua because the Lord is with him just as the Lord was with Moses. They see God's plan and they are doing their part by following it. We see it again in verse 18, "only be strong and of a good courage." It was said three times in this chapter. Remember it when following God's plan.
