Are you getting in the way of God's plans?

How often do you think about the plan of God for your life?  Do you know exactly what you are supposed to be doing in this season of your life as it relates to the things of God?  We often hear and quote the scripture of Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts (and plans) that I think toward you thoughts of peace and not of evil, (plans to prosper you) to give you an expected end.” And with a celebrant burst of excitement, we conclude that we have it all figured out and know exactly how God is going to use us and what He’s going to do.

On the other side of this, how often do we sometimes interfere with God's plans? I was prompted earlier this morning to meditate this scripture and decided that I would venture over into transparency land and share my heart with you. For the last two and a half weeks, I had been looking into a particular program of study that had peaked my interest. This program of study would definitely give me the extra letters behind my name,  it will give me extra credentials to support my professional career and it could do things such as put me into a higher environment with other powerhouses or influential people. Here I am, just rambling on and on in my mind about the possibilities of what could potentially become. “With a little bit of sacrifice and dedication over the incoming year, I could be well on my way. After all, I deserve it, I’ve put some personal goals on the reserve shelf years back to attend to important matters in my life, why certainly this is a good time for me now!” You know how we sometimes do, justifying and rationalizing thoughts to make what we want to do work out.

 Nevertheless, I was kindly and ever so quietly jolted by the Spirit of God. He is so precious at how he does things to get our attention. His soft, non-chastising nudge just left me profound as he said to me, “Is this something that could interfere with the plans that I have for you?” B-O-O-M!!!!!

 I want to leave that same question with you today!  Could it be that there are interests and desires and goals that we tend to look into or perhaps want to pursue but yet have completely nothing to do….. I mean absolutely nothing to do with God's plan? You see, some of us have already spent or exhausted a lot of time and invested a lot of our energy and effort into things that have nothing to do with God's plan.  Have you asked God? Did you seek him first? In no means am I coming down on you… trust me, Holy Spirit dealt with ya girl first! If you go back and read my ponderings, it wouldn’t take you long to notice all of the ‘me’ and the ‘I’ phrases. Not for one moment did I consider God! This is exactly why I am soooo grateful for the Holy Ghost, because he will quickly check you in a kind and loving way to bring you back down into the truth of Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the Kingdom of God…..”

We can no longer afford to pursue after endeavors that benefit or appease our flesh, nor can we do another project that’s going to interfere with and delay the plans of God. We can’t, we just can’t.  One thing about this old flesh, it ALWAYS seeks to be gratified and you can never do enough to meet its desire. We have to draw back to the purpose of the Father. Our mission is to fulfill endeavors that God want us to do in this Earth, for his Kingdom. Sometimes we allow our personal desires and will to get in the way because we're trying to get something that will benefit us …but it doesn't necessarily benefit the Kingdom of God or God’s plan. By any means, I am not encouraging you to not have plans for yourself. What I am encouraging you to do however, is make sure that you ask God first.  Prov. 16:9 states, “ A man’s heart devises his way (plans): but the Lord directs his steps.” Ask yourself this: “Is God getting the glory out of this or am I getting the glory?”  As a reminder, we are no longer our own, but we have been brought with a price. Therefore, we must be intentional in our daily activities that we are not involved in, tied down to, or locked in to things that are interfering with God and what He want to do through you, in you , and for you. My conclusion to my ponderings is this- I have got to be in God’s will. If this is something that is not in his plan for me, then I cannot be a part of it. It’ just that simple. Period. I’ve wasted too much time, chasing after things that were never in his plans for me and I paid for it in the long run.

 So I just want to leave that thought with you to day--- God has a plan to prosper you and part of his plan is to bring you to an expected end. So let's get back in the place of seeking God for his plans and seeking God for the things that he desire for us to do.  I love you. I'm praying for you continually. Be encouraged and have a beautiful Thanksgiving holiday ~ Dr. Amichia