God has a plan for your life! This is a plan for success and not failure. Scripture tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 that “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” So many times in today’s world we are bombarded with all of the bad news and we focus on all the dangers and pitfalls that are potentially in our paths. We think on them, we imagine them in our minds and low and behold we are not surprised when they start happening in our lives.
What we are forgetting is that God is at work in our lives. If we have asked Him to take over and be the Master of our lives we can trust that when he promises that “all things work together for the good of those who love Him” He means it. Phil. 2:12 tells us to “work out our salvation”. Now let me be clear here. There is no “work” I can do that will get me saved! In fact the very next verse tells us that it is God who works in us to fulfill His good works. That is extremely good news. One translation renders this verse as, “For it is God who is at work within you, helping you to want to obey Him and then helping you to do what He wants.” Notice even the desire to do the right things doesn’t come from us it comes from God! Your job is to cooperate. In healthcare we call this “being compliant”. The author of Philippians goes on to tell us to not only cooperate but to do it without grumbling or arguing and rejoice through the process.
Jesus tells us that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Our plans and works tend to be complicated and burdensome. When we allow God to be the Master of our lives He doesn’t just hand us the plan for the future and then walk away, He walks with us and enables us for success every step of the way. You don’t have to worry about how He is going to get you through this year, this month, or even this week! You simply have to be obedient today to do all that He calls you to do and keep moving forward through the doors He opens for you in peace, joy, and love.
Maybe you are facing some challenges, obstacles, or difficulties today. Instead of crying out, “Lord why am I in this situation”, ask “Lord, how can I allow you to use me to bring glory to you in this situation?” Only when we turn our focus off of ourselves and onto Him will we begin to see the breakthroughs that He is just waiting to give us. This is how we “work out our salvation”, by keeping our focus on Jesus, the “Author and Finisher of our faith”.
"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." (Philippians 2:12-13, NIV)
