I Am a Part of God's Plans
Affirmations 2023 | Your Identity in Jesus Christ | Full Armor of God
Select this link for the list of all the affirmations and links to each post.
Lies from the Enemy
“I don’t have purpose in this life.”
This lie from the enemy and his unseen forces always breaks my heart, and shatters me when I talk with people who believe this lie to the very core of their being.
Especially when I hear this lie from teenagers.
When I was in my twenties, and single, I was a certified Chaplain through a Christian ministry to street gangs. We led Bible studies in the local juvenile detention center.
I don’t want to spend anymore time on this destructive lie. I want to dive right in to what God says, for it’s glorious!
What God Says about You
“God has great plans for me.”
This is the response to the enemy’s lie that Louie Giglio gives us in his book based on Psalm 23 (“Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table”). This month, on March 13th, he posted on his Facebook account more thoughts on God’s view of you:
Jeremiah 29:11 (Amplified Bible )
11 ‘For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster [evil], to give you a future and a hope.
God made you. He lovingly gave you gifts and talents that are uniquely yours to discover (over time), and to live out in your life for Him on Earth.
He also has plans for you in the future, beyond this earthly realm. He has plans for you in the new Eden, His glorious new earthly kingdom filled with a future and a hope that’s blessed with His peace, His shalom.
What do you think those plans are? Sitting around playing a harp in the clouds? No.
He gives us hints in His word in Genesis and then describing completion in Revelation, especially chapters 20, 21, and 22, when the Lord restores everything in the new Eden. Think of your future this way:
What if Adam and Eve had never disobeyed the Lord?
Imagine they had never listened to the serpent (the nachash), never had eaten the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. What would Eden be like, over time?
But, they did.
And, the Son of God came to Earth, Immanuel, God with us, to restore the Father’s original plan for Eden, for you and me. A new heaven and a new Earth, two realms restored together as one, no longer separated by sin, by the curse.
You and I have a future in the new Eden in which we will:
Walk with our Lord <— really think about this! (Genesis 3:8)
Judge angels (1 Corinthians 6:3)
Have bodies like Jesus’ resurrection body (Philippians 3:21)
Enjoy health and wellness (see above)
Delight in God’s kingdom without the enemy (Revelation 20:1-3; 7-10)
Work with God to make the new Eden the best place ever
That last point…the work we’ll do with God won’t be drudgery. It will be fun, creative, and filled with only hope. We’ll use the best of our unique personalities, our gifts, our talents. We’ll give God joy as we partner with Him to make the new Eden all that it can be.
Revelation 21 (ESV)
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Your Take Away
Yes, God has great plans for you.
While you’re on Earth, enjoy discovering the plans God has for you, the unique you He created you to be with your unique gifts and talents. As His image bearer, walk in His Spirit, grow in the likeness of Christ, and fulfill the great commission.
As it says on the coffee mug in the photo at the top of this post:
“Go get ‘em”!
Take time this week to meditate on God’s love for you, on His delight in creating you with your unique gifts and talents. There’s no such thing as small gifts, small talents. God made you and adores you. So shut out the noise of the world’s ungodly expectations (Kardashians, anyone?).
Anticipate and look forward to your glorious future in the new Eden that awaits you, where you will walk with the Lord and enjoy His company forever.
Then, ask yourself:
What lies from the enemy have you believed about you not being a part of God’s plans?
Which verses in God’s word can you use to fight back against this lie? (Take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.)
When are you going to ignore the enemy? (Why not start today!)
If you struggle with believing the truth of God’s amazing love for you, please find a safe and loving person who follows Jesus. Talk with that person about your hesitation, your doubts.
Dear friend, it’s time we all take back what the enemy has stolen through his lies. God’s word, and our relationship with Him, are our keys to victory.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Conversation & Community
What are your thoughts about this affirmation, “I am a part of God plans.”?
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Sent to a friend that told me today she is going to start going to Church...She is catholic but that will be better than nothing.
Amen!!