“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)
How did you get here? You had dreams and hopes when you were young. But now you find yourself in a place that you never expected to be. You are not sure how you ended up here. But it is not where you wanted to be.
Your past does not equal your future. You cannot change the past, but you have influence over the future. The decisions of the past determined your present. But the decisions that you are making today will determine your future. Tomorrow can be different from today. You don’t need to stay where you are. It’s time to make a new future.
Start by understanding what led to your current situation. What are the habits, the decisions, and the pitfalls that held you back? What can you change that will help you avoid repeating the same patterns and achieving the same results?
Next, seek the vision for your future. What I mean by this is know where you are going. Most people don’t have any plans for the future. They are simply drifting in life. We spend more time planning our vacations and our next meal than we spend planning our lives. Most people react to their circumstances rather than shaping their circumstances. Sometimes we have wind put into our sails. Other times the wind blows against us. If you leave yourself to the fate of the wind, you will never get anywhere.
Finally, realize that we do not have total control over everything. There are things that happen to us that have no explanation. But you are not a victim. You are more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ who loves us. Believe in his providence. The circumstances you are experiencing today may be shaping a future calling that you have not yet realized. God can use whatever circumstances you face for good.
We seek God’s will in all things. It begins and ends with him. He has the plan. He has the way. He has the power to change your circumstance. His invitation is for you to discover what he has made you to be. Learn from the past and seek his will moving forward.
Reflection
- Are you content with your current pursuits?
- How do you determine God’s plans for you?
Prayer
Lord, I know that you have plans for me. Those plans are to prosper me and not to harm me. Those plans are to give me a hope and a future. Help me to recognize those areas of my life where I have made poor decisions that have led me wayward. Give me your Holy Spirit to give me wisdom that I would not be a victim of my circumstance, but that I would live out my calling in a bold and courageous way. Amen.
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