REALIZING GOD'S GOOD PLAN

God says in Jeremiah 29:11, “...I know the thought that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of Peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end”. He did not say, I will think about you. One thing is certain for every believer serving God in truth and in Spirit while trusting and depending upon Him is that, the Almighty Father has procured for us a suitable place in His thoughts. And they are obviously nudged with a very uncanny kind of Peace that surpasses all understanding. It is only those that are not aware of the provisions which God has made available through Jesus Christ that are famished (Isaiah 5:13).  Having this knowledge is very good, no doubt, but appropriate utilization is another. Knowing the promises of God can prove profitable when we direct prayers to God concerning bringing them to fulfilment in our lives.

All of God’s good plans for the life of an individual are usually initiated by righteous living. The moment defilement is out of the life style of a man, he is left with the attitude of righteousness which enables him to walk in the law of the LORD in a perfect manner. Seeking the LORD with the whole heart will not in anyway be difficult for such a person. This new man formed in the image and likeness of God will easily testify of God’s goodness in the land of the living. His prayer always to God will be fashioned after the pattern revealed in Psalm 119:5, “O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes”.

We must understand however that humanity’s disobedience to God orchestrated the rift in the relationship between God and man, thereby separating mankind from God’s perfect plan. In Romans 3:23, we read, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”. This sin disrupted the initial harmony between God and humanity, requiring a redemptive plan to connect the divide. God’s redemptive plan began to unfold with the promise of a Saviour in Genesis 3:15, where God declared that the “seed of the woman” will ultimately crush the serpent’s head. This prophecy spoke to the emergence of Jesus Christ as the Saviour, who would come into the world to present himself as the perfect sacrifice for the erosion of humanity’s sins.

Throughout the Old Testament, we find numerous prophecies referring to the coming Messiah. Isaiah 7:14 prophesied, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel”. This verse was ultimately fulfilled in Matthew 1:23 when Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to the world in the likeness of a man through the virgin birth of Mary. Jesus Christ, the embodiment of God’s plan, fulfilled numerous divine prophecies during His time on Earth. Through His ministry, teachings, death, and resurrection, Jesus offered redemption and did not fail to inform us that He is the way to the Father. John 14:6 reaffirms this, with Jesus declaring, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Guidance from God plays a vital role in realizing His plan for our lives. Proverbs 3:6 advises believers to acknowledge Him in all their ways, and He shall direct their paths. By seeking God’s guidance through prayer, meditation, and studying His Word, we align ourselves with His purposes and discover His divine plan for our lives. When God’s word orders your step, He will not allow iniquity to have dominion over you because “The entrance of God’s words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple” (Psalm 119:130). Once we discover God’s plan for our lives, it is essential to live in its alignment with our lives, by praying it into fulfilment. Romans 12:2 emphasizes the importance of transforming our minds to discern that good, holy, and perfect will of God. By surrendering our lives to Him, we allow God to work through us to fulfil His purposes.

In conclusion, Realizing God’s good plan requires a deep understanding of the fact that is embedded in Psalm 92:12 which says, “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon”. Those that are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of the Almighty God. Be rest assured that they shall still bring forth fruit of righteousness in old age; they shall also be fat and nourished with the flourishing truth of the Almighty Father. Have you being planted in the house of the LORD? By this we mean, are you born again? If not, you can do that now. Confess to God your sinful lifestyle and habits through Jesus Name, and he will forgive you. By doing so, you can experience the abundant life that God has designed for us, filled with His love, grace, and blessings.