Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Do you have GPS?

If you are a Christian we have one of these nifty little gadgets already installed. You don't have to pay extra, it comes with the package. Yes, we all have a GPS; you know, a "God's Plan System".


"GPS-the Global Positioning System is a U.S. space-based radionavigational, and timing services to civilian users on a continuous worldwide basis -- freely available to all. For anyone with a GPS receiver, the system will provide location and time. GPS provides accurate location and time information for an unlimited number of people in all weather, day and night, anywhere in the world."

Part of learning about God and His Nature is realizing that He cares for us, and that He has a good plan for us. God knows where you are at all times, and has a great plan to get you to your destination. He sees if we are "on course" and knows when we are about to make a wrong turn. He sees what lies ahead and warns, and protects. His timing is perfect and He asks us to stay close. It works all over the world and it's "freely available to all." He will talk us through every step of the way.

I know we've talked about God's plans for us before, but because this aspect of God's nature is so important I want to re-visit these scriptures. They never get old and can always offer us some new insight.

Version: NAS

Romans 8: 28-29
28. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to [His] purpose. 29. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined [to become] conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren.


I've heard unbelievers say "well, I just believe everything works out for the good." While that is an optimistic attitude it's not particularly "truth" for those who are not in relationship with Jesus Christ. As Christians that trust God and live a life according to what He desires, we can be confident that He will take all things that we learn and experience, and make them ultimately turn into "good".

I had a friend many years ago that had lost a son tragically in a car accident. Two years later when I met her, she was still raw and angry at God. She had received this "word" from God over and over, even by people that did not know her and the loss of her son. When the Lord impressed me with this scripture and was adamant for me to speak it to her, she became infuriated and blew up at me.
"How can you say what happened was good?"
Then I showed her that the verse did not say what happened was good, but that God would take it and ultimately make good come from it. As we submit our life and experiences to God, He will heal us from hurt and harm and will take those burdens from us, then He can work supernatural things in our life. But only if we allow Him to do so.

Romans 12: 2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.


As we allow God to "transform our thinking" we are then able to hear and understand His will. If we are "worldly thinkers" then we will not see God's plan or believe it to be "good".

Ephesians 1:11
NIV In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will.
NAS: also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.

Our inheritance as God's children is to be like Jesus. He has a predestined (thought out in advance, determined and planned in advance) plan for us, and asks us to be available to follow that plan.

Ephesians 2: 10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

God created good works for us to do here on earth. Each person's works and plans are not the same. God calls each of us to be in His likeness, that way wherever He puts us and whatever He asks us to do, we will be letting Him shine through.

Proverbs 3:5-6
5. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. 6. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

Going back to that GPS, isn't it easier to read if all you have to do is stick on a major Highway? I'm not particularly good at map reading, but when we go to St. Louis to see our kids, we have a straight path, one highway.

Jeremiah 29:11-14
11. 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 12. 'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13. 'And you will seek Me and find [Me], when you search for Me with all your heart. 14. 'And I will be found by you,' declares the LORD, 'and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,' declares the LORD, 'and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.'

This is one of my favorite scripture passages and I speak this back to God frequently. His plans for us are for good and not calamity. He gives us a future and hope! No matter if we get off course, as these Israelites had done, He promises to bring us back to Him and that He will restore us.

Genesis 50:20
"And as for you, you meant evil against me, [but] God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.

As Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brother's lack of love and ruthless jealousy, God had a plan all along. He situated Joseph in the Pharaoh's household and gave him access to the wealth of Egypt. So when famine came God would have a plan to build the nation of Israel.

John 10:10
The thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Here Jesus is telling us that He does not kill, steal from you, or plan on destroying you. Please remember this. It is our, enemy, the devil that does these things.

With what is happening in our country today and in our personal lives, stay strong with the power of the Holy Spirit. Remind God of these scriptures, for yourself and family. TRUST Him and ask for His good plan for your life and your loved ones.

He is good and has good plans for us!

love to you all,
Debra

10 comments:

  1. Steve Green sang a song "He Who Began A Good Work In You"...
    My favorite. And I sing it when my GPS system gets unplugged or my batteries die...or I loose it. Then I have to find a GPS to find my GPS... thank you for being my GPS Debra.

    He who began a good work in you
    He who began a good work in you
    Will be faithful to complete it
    He'll be faithful to complete it
    He who started a work
    Will be faithful to complete it in you

    If the struggle you're facing
    Is slowly replacing your hope
    With despair
    Or the process is long
    And you're losing your song
    In the night
    You can be sure that the Lord
    Has His hand on you
    Safe and secure
    He will never abandon you
    You are His treasure
    And He finds His pleasure in you
    (lyrics and song by Steve Green)

    xoxoxoxo
    Much Love,
    Robelyn

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  2. Thankful to know GOD has a perfect plan for me. He will most certainly complete the good work HE began in me.
    Blessings, andrea

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  3. This is a good word, Debra. And Robelyn, I love that lyric. It's beautiful. :)

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  4. Debra, between you and R.NC, you have started my day in the direction it needed. I am feeling a little overwhelmed right now, but the scriptures you have referenced and the lyrics provide a safe haven for me to reflect on and recharge.
    Thanks,
    Debbie

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  5. Hi Debra
    Isn't it wonderful to know that it isn't up to us but it is God's word and promise to finish that work that He has begun in us! And the times in the past where my GPS got off track, so I thought, turned out to be a time of learning and training. Nothing wasted because He never leaves us or forsakes us. Even Moses spent many years in the desert, thinking it was over for him but it actually was a time of training for what the Lord had in store for him. It is His purpose to complete in us the image of Christ. Praise God when He looks at us He sees that...Christ in US the hope of glory- we are no longer sinners we have put off the old nature and have the mind of Christ.
    Blessings

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  6. Robelyn, awesome lyrics, I'm going to try to find it on the internet. I want to hear the tune. The phrase that really hit me was
    "when the process is long and you're losing your song" Wow, can I identify with that! Thanks girl, for sharing that!

    Debbie, we love you, and I know there are some things in transition going on in your heart. I'm so glad you left a comment. I've been missin' you! Hope you always know I'm around.

    Rebecca, I identify with Moses alot, and David, as they both had a time of preparation. Paul also, spent a lot of years "on the backside of the desert". I've been there and sometimes still feel like I am.

    Andrea and Lisa, it's just so comforting hearing from the word that God has a plan. I may not see it, but He surely does!
    love you all,
    blessings,
    Debra

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  7. Boy, did you hit the nail on the head! When my youngest son was in the hospital for his first three months with many complications from open heart surgery, people would always tell me that "God only gives you what you can handle" Really, it would be more correct to say, "God promises to help you handle the things you can't on your own." Glad He has me on GPS, because I always seem to get "lost."

    A wonderful post, as always!!!
    Kate

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  8. I get off course so often that I need one of God's GPS systems permanently embedded in my think skull!

    It all comes down to trust or a lack thereof with me. I have a hard time letting go and trusting, even when God has proven Himself to me time and again.

    I feel inadequate, because whenever I leave comments here, it's usually about what I'm struggling with, or lacking spiritually. I don't sign off on a feel-good, rah-rah sort of note. I wish I could, but right now, that's not where I'm at.

    I'm so glad you're here. All of you. I'm here, reading, praying. Not always commenting, but I'm always here, taking in everything you good folks share...

    Anne

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  9. Hi Debra,

    I am just catching up on your posts and I really needed this one today. Thank you so much for the reminders! I was praying about this very thing this morning and coming here and reading all the scriptures were just confirmation for me.

    Blessings my friend!
    xo,
    Adrienne

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  10. Amen Debra. As I read your post I just kept thinking of Jeremiah 29:11. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not calamity to give you a future and a hope." All of that requires we are following God's "GPS". Blessings,
    Rose

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