By Chris WittsWednesday 12 Feb 2014Morning Devotions with Chris WittsLifeReading Time: 0 minutes
Transcript:
Since God says,”I made you for a purpose and that plan doesn’t change,” that brings up three very important questions:
1. Can I miss God’s purpose for my life? Absolutely. Of course you can miss it. Millions and millions of people miss God’s purpose for their life all the time. You can miss it by neglect. You can miss God’s purpose for your life by arrogance – by doing your plan and not God’s (we learned about that last week). You can miss it by disobedience,by rebellion,and by laziness. You can live your entire life and never fulfil the reason you were actually put on this earth. That’s a tragedy,but God never forces His purpose on us. It’s a choice where you say,”Jesus Christ,I want You to be my Lord. I want to follow Your plan and purpose for my life.”
2. Can I get back on track after wasting years of my life? Absolutely. Psalm 33:11: “His plans endure forever. His purposes last eternally.” That means that no matter what has happened in your life to date,God’s purpose for your life has not changed because He’s unchanging. His purposes never change. Some of you may say,”But you don’t know about that moral blowout I had three years ago or ten years ago. You don’t know about that sin,that stupid decision I made where I took the wrong turn in life and wasted ten or twenty years or more. You don’t know.” I say this: Regardless of what has happened in your life up to this point – God has not given up on you. And He never will. No matter what’s happened.
Let the truth of Proverbs 19:21 penetrate your life: “You can make many plans but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.”
That brings up the third question:
3. What about all those dumb things I’ve done? What about all those stupid decisions and bad choices? Those things that I regret and wish had never happened and I’d like to go back and do over?
Romans 8:28: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and who have been called according to His purpose.” We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him. It doesn’t say in some things. It doesn’t say in the good things. It says in all things.
It does not say that all things are good. No,not all things are good. There is a lot of evil and heartache in the world. I’ve experienced some of it and so have you. It says in all things God works for good. He can take evil and tragedies and turn them around and bring good out of them. He loves to turn crucifixions into resurrections.
The Bible says,in all things God works for the good. For everyone? No,this is not a promise for everybody in the whole world. It is a promise for those who love Him,those who are called according to His purpose. Only when you say,”Jesus Christ,I want to be Yours. I want to take all the pieces of my life and let You give me Your peace for my pieces. I want to give You all this.”
Think about the biggest disappointment or hurt you’ve ever had. Or think about the thing you regret most in your life. Think about the dumbest thing you’ve ever done,your most unwise choice. Think about the most hurtful thing somebody else has done to you.
God saw it all before it ever happened. And He has found a way to weave it into His plan and purpose for your good,for your growth,and for His glory. What a God! He is good – all the time. No matter what you’ve gone through,whether it was your fault or somebody else’s. God can use it for good if you give Him the pieces.
What are you afraid of? When you think about the future,what’s your stomach in a knot about? When you think about the changes that are coming in your life,what is it that causes your back muscles and neck to tense up,or your face to feel flushed,or your mouth to go dry,because you wonder,”I don’t know if I can handle this or not.”
Regardless of what it is that’s got you stressed out this morning,why don’t you do what David did in Psalm 56:11: “I trust in God,so why should I be afraid?” Why should I be afraid? I trust in God. Then he says this,”God is our refuge and strength,a tested help [He’s proven reliable] in times of trouble. And so we need not fear even if the world blows up and the mountains crumble into the sea.” The truth is I don’t know what the future holds.