Category: God’s plans for you

Something wonderful has happened in our garden. After receiving the beautiful life-giving rain the plants are growing again! Thank you God. The boundary hedges are expanding upwards and outwards. So much so, that our gate had difficulty opening. The power from the protruding branches was almost too great for the electric motor. The gate shuddered as the electric motor pushed against the branches. Finally the breakthrough came and the gate continued on it’s path. When I observed this struggle I realised some pruning was required to ensure with the longevity of the gate motor! So out came the pruning shears and off came the branches. The gate is running smoothly now.

There are a few things we can draw from this gardening story …

God makes things grow

Firstly, while we planted the hedge plants, it is God who makes them grow, just as it is God who makes us grow …

After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.  It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 NLT

We are God’s workers, working together for His purposes. The Passion Translation says it this way,

I was the one who planted the church and Apollos came and cared for it, but it was God who caused it to grow. This means the one who plants is not anybody special, nor the one who waters, for God is the one who brings the supernatural growth. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 TPT

And we always need to remember that truth and as Micah 6:8 says,

Walk humbly in the company of your God. Micah 6:8 ISV

God knows the pruning plan

Secondly, God will discern when and how our pruning is required, and it will always be at the right time and in the right way. We need to trust Him.

I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. John 15:1-2 NLT

How important is that cutting off of the branches that don’t produce fruit? In my garden example, if those branches hindering the gate’s movement had not been chopped then we would not have been able to get into our property. In a spiritual sense, we need that tidying up – cleansing – so we can enter into all God has for us – a relationship with Him for now and all of eternity.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22 NIV

Jesus enables us to live again

Yes, Jesus has done that cleansing for us. He enables us to live fully again, so we need to stay connected to Him.

I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples. John 15:5-8 The Message

As we stay connected to Jesus, and allow God to do the pruning, we can then confidently run the race set before us.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV

And that race may not be run quite as smoothly as my electric gate is running now, but with perseverance and the power of God, we will complete the race, in Jesus Name.

For some more thoughts on the benefits of pruning please visit this post … who likes pruning?

There is as phrase I heard a long time ago, something like, “Always keep the main thing, the main thing.” I can’t remember exactly where I was, but it was in a church, and the ‘main thing’ was ‘living our lives Jesus’ way.’ Let’s pause and consider that now.

This week I thought about that phrase again as I was reading a passage from James:

Instead you should say, “Our tomorrows are in the Lord’s hands and if he is willing we will live life to its fullest and do this or that.” James 4:15 TPT

Beth Moore, in her book, James, Mercy Triumphs, discusses this scripture in conjunction with Jeremiah 29:11:

‘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 hope and a future.’ Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

What if we really believed …?

And then she poses some interesting questions…

“What if we understood down to the marrow of our bones that His is the only plan that really does end up prospering us?

What if we really believed Jesus when He said that those who insist on finding their own lives will lose them and those who lose them for His sake will find them (see Matt 16:25)?

What if we really believed that, if we seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness, everything else of true value would be given to us, too (see Matt 6:33)?

What if we really believed that, “He did not even spare His own Son but offered Him up for us all; how will He not also with him grant us everything” (Rom 8:32)?

What if we really believed that “godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1 Tim 4:8 NASB)?

What if we really believed that God is not only great, He is good?”

(Beth Moore, James, Mercy Triumphs, Page 153)

These are some very thought-provoking questions. Try substituting the ‘What if we really believed that…’ with ‘Do I believe that…’

Do versus talk

Then, lets take the questioning a step further, … not answering with words, but rather with an inventory of our past actions ie Does what we do line up with what we say we believe?

Please understand my intention is not to bring condemnation, but rather to encourage us (definitely me too), to pause and consider how we are travelling with ‘living with Jesus as Lord of our lives.’

There is always room for improvement, an area in our lives that the Holy Spirit wants to help us with – greater trust, quicker obedience, greater evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, just to name a few.

Ask God for help

So today, let’s determine to let God have His way in our life, helping us to keep ‘the main thing, the main thing’ as He alone knows what tomorrow will bring.

For some more thoughts on God’s favour and love for us please visit this post: God’s favour is on us – Day 25 – Drawing Closer to God devotion

If you are looking for more encouragement today, check out my podcasts.

What happens when God gives you a vision for something in your future? What is your response? Maybe there is an excited exclamation of ‘Yes!’ Perhaps there is a ‘Wow God, really?’ Maybe there is an acknowledgement of our inadequacy, ‘This will have to be all you God, as I have nothing.’ Whatever our response, one of the big lessons I have learnt is that God controls the timing of when that vision comes to pass. There is nothing we can do to speed up the process. It’s all about God’s timing & our patience.

To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 AMPC

Option 1 – Ignore God’s timing

We have the option of ignoring this truth and toiling away in our own strength to make things happen in our perceived perfect timing. I have found that this option always leads to disappointment, frustration and often exhaustion. And to make matters worse, most often the vision doesn’t actually come to pass, and if it does, it doesn’t happen the way that God intended!

Option 2 – Submit to God

The other option is that we choose to let God be the leader, submit to Him and practice patience.

Patience is a supernatural fruit of the Holy Spirit.

But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless. Galatians 5:22-23 TPT

Tips for practicing patience

What does practicing patience look like? Here are a few of my thoughts …

1. Asking the Holy Spirit for help to practice patience
2. Removing all our expected time-frames. This means not just erasing them from our plans, but saying to God, “I let go of my time-frame and submit to Yours.”
3. Recognising that even though you prayed the prayer in #2, you may still be operating with your expected timeframe. So keep a careful watch on your reactions when something doesn’t go as you thought it would. Are you disappointed? Is there frustration? When you think about what happened, does your body tense up? If you are having these type of responses, take some time to ask the Holy Spirit a few questions … Why am I are responding this way? What is it that I haven’t completely surrendered to God? Holy Spirit, what do You want to teach me through this experience?
4. Regularly remembering that God has the big picture. Reflecting on all the times when God’s time-frame was different to yours, but unsurprisingly, it turned out that His time-frame was always perfect.

This scripture always helps me to put my plans and thoughts in their rightful place ….

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV

My life example – writing a book

God taught me many things about patience when He gave me the project to write a book about the first three years of our journey with Victoria and the brain tumour. My time-frame for finishing the project was completely unrealistic in many aspects, from overestimating the actual time that I had available, to the unanticipated time for the emotional processing that would be required for me to complete the project.

As I missed each of my self-imposed deadlines, the more aware I became that this project wasn’t really my project at all. Yes, God had birthed the book project in my heart, but, as I now know, that did not mean that He had handed over the managing of the project to me. With each of my missed deadlines over the years, God was subtlety changing my mindset showing me that it was His project, and He was going to do it His way and in His timing. And I would just have to be patient.

God’s plans are always better

Years on, I understand just a little bit of His plan. But that little bit is enough to know that His plans will always be better than mine. And that the more I practice patience, the more I am able to enjoy the time that it takes for His plans to unfold. It becomes like an adventure, not knowing exactly when the next step will happen, but making sure that I am listening to the guidance of the Holy Spirit to ensure I am prepared and equipped for when it does come to pass.

So if you are in the waiting season and finding it a bit frustrating, I encourage you to have those authentic conversations with the Holy Spirit, let Him guide and be open to what He wants to teach you. Remember God’s timing & our patience is key.

For some more thoughts on God’s faithfulness please visit these posts …
God hears our heart’s cry
God is listening – Day 22 – Drawing Closer to God devotion

Over twenty years ago most Saturday mornings, Ken and I would travel by public transport (we were newly married and didn’t have a car) from Elizabeth Bay, inner Sydney, to Chatswood. Why? For Ken to pre-record his radio show, ‘Arts in Review’ at a community radio station During the week he’d contact his interviewees and assign a time for an over the phone interview on the Saturday morning. On those Saturdays I’d sit in the chair outside the studio and often fall asleep after a long, sometimes challenging week working on an IT helpdesk. Little did I know that these Saturday morning excursions were to be a great example of how ‘God goes before us.’

Yesterday when I was sitting in my car having just finished a phone interview with a Christian radio station in Perth about my book and God’s faithfulness, God reminded me about those Saturday morning excursions.

Aside; I was in my car so I wouldn’t be interrupted by any of the family – but I forgot to turn off call-waiting on my phone! Thankfully the interview was being pre-recorded!

God is always preparing us for our future

Anyway, as I sat there giving thanks to God for how well the interview had gone (from my perspective anyway), He gave me a picture of Ken and I in the studio in Chatswood, and Ken interviewing people over the phone. God was reminding me of a few things …

1. God always goes before us, preparing the way. In this case, over 20 years ago, unknowingly, I was being immersed in an environment that I would need to know about today!

And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8 NKJV

2. God will always make sure we are prepared for what He wants us to do and will fill the gaps that need to be filled. In this example, Ken with his radio experience, was able to coach me in the preparation for the interview.

Now may the God who brought us peace by raising from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ so that he would be the Great Shepherd of his flock; and by the power of the blood of the eternal covenant, may he work perfection into every part of you giving you all that you need to fulfill your destiny. And may he express through you all that is excellent and pleasing to him through your life-union with Jesus the Anointed One who is to receive all glory forever! Amen! Hebrews 31:20-21 TPT

Giving you all that you need to fulfill your destiny. Even when we don’t realise it at the time. Thank you God that you are the Master planner!

God knows how the story ends

3. God knows how the story ends and He knows the part He wants us to play. He knows that He is working all things together for good …

So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together to fit into God’s perfect plan of bringing good into our lives, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose. Romans 8:28 TPT

So, despite all that has come against us over the years, in the words of a wonderful, life giving song, Raise a Hallelujah, by Bethel Music ….

I raise a Hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies.

Remember, our God, the one who goes before, equips us, and knows how the story ends, He will always have the last say …

Jesus has the last word on everything and everyone, from angels to armies. He’s standing right alongside God, and what he says goes.
1 Peter 2:33 The Message

For some more thoughts on putting your confidence in God please visit this post: Put your confidence in Him – Day 15 – Drawing Closer to God Devotion

If you are looking for more encouragement today, check out my podcasts.

There is nothing like visiting your home town to be reminded of where you have come from, and what was being sown into your life when you didn’t realise it.

The photo above is me standing outside Christ Church, an Anglican church in Ellerslie, Auckland, New Zealand. This is the church my mother took me to when I was a child. It was here that I played the pipe organ (badly) at Sunday services. It is the place where I first experienced the church embrace the community at large.

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand. Zechariah 4:10 NLT

It is the church where I started to develop by own relationship with Jesus, before in my late teens becoming immersed in the world of marxist feminist teaching at University.

Now I am the mum of teenage children navigating their own faith journey. So as we drove around my home town of Auckland, God gently reminded me that I am also the mum who went into the spiritual wilderness for about six years before returning to the place of acknowledging Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. Amazing Grace.

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”  2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV

God also reminded me of all the seeds that were sown in my life when my mother regularly took me to church when I was a child, all those years ago.

Dedicate your children to God
and point them in the way that they should go,
and the values they’ve learned from you will be with them for life.
Proverbs 22:6 TPT

Seeds of God’s truth and love that took root in my heart and have grown and bloomed in various ways over the years. Seeds that illustrate so clearly to me that God always goes before us, and He always has a plan.

It is the Lord Who goes before you; He will [march] with you; He will not fail you or let you go or forsake you; [let there be no cowardice or flinching, but] fear not, neither become broken [in spirit—depressed, dismayed, and unnerved with alarm]. Deuteronomy 31:8 AMPC

One beautiful autumn afternoon while I was in Auckland, God reminded me of another way that He had prepared me for my future. I was blessed that afternoon to go sailing on the Hauraki Gulf with my father on his boat. For those who enjoy a fast exhilarating sail, this was not their afternoon. Rather it was an afternoon of contemplation as the yacht ambled along in the glorious sunshine, occasionally making 3 knots!

As we circumnavigated an island in the gulf I started to reflect on all that the sailing adventures of my youth had taught me, and how those lessons had helped me over the years.

One of those lessons that stood out was patience. On the sail that afternoon we had the option of turning on the motor and increasing the speed to 6 knots. But neither of us wanted the chug chug chug of the diesel engine to ruin the serenity of the quiet slapping of the water against the hull. Remember we were only probably averaging 2 knots! So we persevered with the sailing, although it really wasn’t that painful!

Sometimes in life we don’t have any other options (like turning on the diesel engine), to ‘improve’ the situation. We have to be patient and trust that God’s got this. He is the Alpha and Omega.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Revelation 22:13 NKVJ

We have to trust that He is Lord of all, and He is always working in our lives. A truth that God very clearly reminded me of during the past 10 days when visiting my home town.

I pray with great faith for you, because I’m fully convinced that the One who began this glorious work in you will faithfully continue the process of maturing you and will put his finishing touches to it until the unveiling^[cof our Lord Jesus Christ! Philippians 1:6 TPT