Rest assured, God’s plans endure. This motivational thought is based on God’s words to the prophet Jeremiah concerning the return of the Jews to Jerusalem after 70 years of Babylonian captivity.
Jeremiah said, “This is what the Lord says, ‘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.’”
Within its historical context, this prophecy was fulfilled when the Jews returned to Jerusalem in 538 BC.
However, since these words are recorded in the Bible, they remain active for anyone reading them today. That’s how scripture works. God’s Word endures and by, His grace, you can hold it in your hands today.
His plans are always for your shalom, even when the contrary seems evident. His promise, spoken more than two and a half thousand years ago is still alive and real for you today.
I received a comment on a Facebook post this week where I quoted this Bible verse. The comment implied that this verse can be seen as resigning to the fact that, if God plans our lives, then we have no say in our future.
Well, for me, I would gladly resign to God’s plans for my future. I know, by experience, that my plans seldom work out for the good. However, God is gracious. By that I mean, He never forces His will on us. We are always free to choose to go with His plans or reject his design for our lives.
Therefore, I am free to plod along through life without acknowledging God and simply hope for the best, or I could surrender my will to His will in the knowledge that all things will work out for my good since I have been called according to His purpose.
The surety of this fact lies in the reality that God knows my tomorrow; he is there already.
“But the Word of the Lord endures forever. Now this is the word which by the Gospel was preached to you.“
1 Peter 1:25
My encouragement to you today is, resign your life over to the plans that God has for you. Acknowledge Him in all your ways and trust that He will plan your life’s track, knowing that God’s plans endure.
His plans are always for your shalom (peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare and tranquillity), even when the contrary seems evident. This promise, spoken more than two and a half thousand years ago, is still alive and real for you today.
God-tracking is trusting that God’s plans endure
IT’S ALL IN THE BIBLE. READ ALL ABOUT IT
Get into the word of God and get the word of God into you!
Jeremiah 29:10-14 (NIV); Romans 8:28-29; Proverbs 3:5-6
You can track God’s plans for your life with Dudley Anderson, the author of Tracking the Will of God This post is part of Dudley’s weekly GodTracker devotional series. You can also listen to his GodTracker podcast.
Dudley Anderson
Originally from South Africa, Dudley Andersen now lives in the UK where he heads up Sure Reality Media and pastors Cornerstone Family Church in Worcestershire. He is married to Karen-Leigh and has two children, Kerryn and Ryan. Dudley has a background in radio and has worked for Radio Pulpit, Impact Radio and Christian Vision. Since 2005 he has produced diverse content for various Christian stations. He is the author of God-Tracking Through the Year and Overflowing Hope and writes a weekly e-mail devotional called, GodTracker. Dudley is also a worship leader.
