Seeking and discerning the Lord’s will as we plan for the future.
© Marcel Imsand from his book Luigi le Berger (1991)
As life opens up after a l.o.n.g period of lockdown, it is wonderful to know that God has plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11) and that the One who created us and knows us, better than we know ourselves, has all the days ordained for us written in His book before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:16).
When I became a Christian, in 1977, I was seeking purpose in life, and as I understood that Christ’s death had made it possible for me to be reconciled to God and have a relationship with the God who created me, I was excited to be able to hand my life over to Him and wanted to follow His plan for my life. I can honestly say that God has always been with me and guided me in some great adventures over the years, as I have learnt to be obedient and trust Him.
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
- EPHESIANS 2:10
But how do we know what God has prepared in advance for us to do?
We must really want to go God’s way and not our own. Remember how much God loves us and that He promises to teach us the way we should go if we trust Him and use the common sense He has given us (Psalm 32:8-9 and Proverbs 3:5).
Seek Him as we read the Bible and pray. Romans 12:2 tells us we should be transformed by the renewing of our mind so that we will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. The Holy Spirit will do this in us as we read the Bible. God will never lead us in to something that is contrary to His word. As we read the Bible, God will draw to our attention verses that He particularly wants to speak to us through. For example, in John 15:16 Jesus tells us that Jesus chose us and appointed us to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. As we meditate on verses like this we can pray, and ask God what that looks like in His plan for our future and ask Him to open His doors of opportunity.
Jesus is our Good Shepherd and we need to learn to recognise and listen to His voice. He calls us by name as He leads us. See John chapter 10. Listen out to what He may be saying as we read the Bible, listen to Biblical teaching, read books, talk with people and consider our circumstances. Spend time with Jesus, learning to recognise that quiet voice speaking in to our hearts (Isaiah 30:21). We must be careful not to confuse God’s voice with our feelings.
Talk to wise counsellors who know us and the Lord. God often builds on our experiences and the gifting He has given us and the personalities and passions He has created in us. Others may be able to see that in us. Listen to wise advice (Proverbs 12:15) and weigh it up in bible study and prayer.
Wait on God and don’t be in a hurry to jump in to the first thing that comes up. Waiting can be one of the hardest things to do. During lock down I have been thankful for time to read and apply Andrew Murray’s book ‘Waiting on God’.
God will give us His peace when we are obedient and we walk in to the future He has prepared for us.