I Have Plans for You
Jeremiah 29:10-14
1- Although the Israelites were in a hopeless
situation, God had a plan for them and it was a GOOD plan.
2- God has a plan for us: Please pay attention.
“God can turn your yesterdays
into better tommorows.”1 There is always hope
when we walk with God, always.
When I was in
Then their days of fame were
over. New coaches came and the Dallas Cowboys were never the same. Finally,
they hired Coach Bill Parcells, the “Big
Tuna.” They hired him because they had
seen his records. He had a wonderful record in Super Bowl. And indeed, he turned
things upside down.
If you have doubts about God and about his plans, look for God’s
record. Pay attention to what God has done. God knows how to coach your life; just allow him to
coach you. Read the Bible and you can find the record of His works.
Some of us are stuck in bad
experiences of the past and cannot see the front, cannot even see God’s hand in
their life.
When we drive, we have
different mirrors to look at. Side mirrors and a rearview mirror. We also have the
windshield in front of us. You are a dangerous driver if your eyes are fixed
only on the rearview mirror. You have to take quick look at the mirrors, but
your eyes should always look forward.
God is telling you this
morning. I am God. And I have plans for you. Look forward and KNOW ME.
3- Do I have anything to do while I am waiting for my
plan?
Yes, we have an active role.
It is not time to sit back and be lazy.
Let us see in the scripture.
“Build houses and settle
down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Give your daughters in marriage,
so that they too may have sons…… Also seek peace and
prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile” (5-7).
Do you want the blessing of
God to be on you? Learn to be blessing for others.
I would like to give the
example of Mrs. Yevnige Salibian. She is in her 90s. She decided to go to Ararat
Home, so she can be blessing to others. Some weeks ago, I was talking with her.
I know she has some pains due to age but instead of talking about them, she was
talking about her ministry.
4- The focus is God and not your plan.
”Then you will
call upon me and come and pray
to me, and I will listen to
you. You will seek me and find
me when you seek me with all your heart” (vs 12).
How many times do you read the word me.
That me is God. You see, while you are waiting
for the plan of God you need to learn to have deeper communication with the Planner.
I love Indiana Jones movies. Have you seen the Last
Crusade? In one incident, Indy went to his father, Dr. Jones and said that
the map of the road to Holy Grail was stolen. Indy was unhappy and confused.
His father said to him: “Indy, I drew the map. They may have the map,
but you have me. And if you have me, you have the map. So
all you need to get to the Holy Grail is take me with
you, and you’re going to get there.”
I know that many are saying: “Where is my plan?” If
you know the Planner, you can find the plan somehow.
Last Sunday after the worship service, we dedicated a
long period of time discussing the vision of our church. The Deacons and the Council
members are determined that the priority of our church is to help every one, in
every age group, to be plugged into God. There is no other alternative. The more
we go closer to God (to the Planner) the more God’s plan will be revealed in
our lives.
While you grow in Christ, while Christ becomes your role
model, things will be happening that you cannot explain. That is OK. The Israelites
were confused in the exile; they did not have their worship center; they did
not have their teachings. On the contrary, they had wrong and false teachers.
God asked them to be involved in the welfare of their pagan city.
I hear from some of you that they like to go churches
where there is solid teaching, good programs for the youth, and wonderful
opportunities for new ministries. I can understand and I like to be there, too.
Yet look to our passage: LEARN TO BE A
BLESSING and God will teach you, and
God will guide you and God will give you the words.
I was telling you about my friend Serop from
When you learn
that your center is God, and
you are not the one doing the ministry, but God is the one doing it through you,
there you start seeing God’s plan for you. The focus is on God and not on you: “Then you will call upon me and
come and pray to me, and I
will listen to you. You will seek me
and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (vs 12).
5- The road will
not be easy. God is not promising an easy road. Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of
death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
He is
with us through the valley of the shadow of death. Moses was
in the desert. Joseph was sold, and
was jailed. The Israelites were
under discipline and exile. Paul, Peter, all of the disciples
did not have an easy life. However, they knew God.
Cinderella’s story is interesting. The wicked stepmother and the
sisters did not help Cinderella. When Cinderella came back that evening from
the dance, the situation was not changed. However, she was sweeping the floor
with a different smile and with a song in her heart. She knew the prince. She had the experience of being with the prince.
She was sweeping, remember, sweeping, but with a different song.
How do you feel today? Do you see that God
has a plan for you?
Are you plugged into God through Jesus Christ? He
has plan for you. What a privilege to be God’s instrument to execute His plan
for His GLORY!
Amen.
1 Evans, Tony. “God Is Up to Something Great”