WHAT IS YOUR PLAN?
by – Rob Briggs – Chaplain, Logan United Christian Soccer Club
WHAT IS YOUR PLAN ?
If your life is anything like mine you will be looking forward to experiencing some important and exciting upcoming events. Some are in the near future while others maybe a little more distant. We may have some plans that are more important and beneficial for our family members while others maybe less important. Some will have a more personal appeal, and some will be group activities. It just highlights the fact that if you don’t plan ahead, life could become rather boring.
How often do our plans get disrupted, postponed or even cancelled? How does that make us feel? Some people feel disappointed while others accept the inevitable. Do we look to blame someone for throwing a spanner in the works? Anger is a common reaction but that never seems to help calm our emotions. Or do we just mark it down to ‘fate’, something that happened that is out of our control?
I think it is worth considering that God has a plan for us that will deliver a much better outcome than we could ever imagine. That being the case, taking the time to include God in our decision-making process would seem to be extremely important. How do we do that I hear you say? Well, I am sure that you are familiar with the concept of prayer.
As the apostle Paul said:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:6–7.
There is a common thought that prayer will change God’s mind. That is most definitely NOT the case. Although, praying can change circumstances.
And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him. First John 5:14–15
The phrase “according to His will” is the key. Look at it this way as an example; you plan to give your child a raise in pocket money when they turn 13 knowing that by that age as a Teenager, they will be a little more mature and show a greater level of responsibility. But leading up to that time at say, age 10, they begin to pester you for more pocket money. By age 11 and 12 when there is no monitory increase anger and frustration begin to show. Then at their 13th birthday and entering their teens they have developed a greater understanding and more thoughtful, common sense way to approach the request for a raise. You then take into your consideration the sincerity of the request and the level of maturity being displayed and gladly provide the increased allowance. Have you changed your mind? No, your original intention was to give them an increased allowance at age 13. The asking and the level of maturity were the critical factors.
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:5-6
Likewise, God has a plan for each of us, it is written in the book and cannot be changed. While we have a freedom of choice God sees the end from the beginning and knows what choices we will make. Have you chosen to make a plan for your life? If so, I pray that you have engaged in earnest prayer, seeking God’s will for your future. Here is a thought, does that future include where you will spend Eternity?
May you have a Happy and Holy Easter – He Is Risen, He is Risen indeed
Rob (Bob) Briggs
Chaplain Logan United Christian Soccer Club
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