"God Has a Wonderful Plan for Your Life!!" That's Great! So What Is It?

[seoulsearch]

When I was a teenager, I figured God's plan for my life was like that of the other women in my family--get married young, have a family, be a stay-at-home mom until the kids were in school and then go back to work...

None of that panned out, and I'm often left wondering if there's any plan left.

Like many people, my life pretty much revolves around work, daily responsibilities, and church... but each day kind of melts into the next... and it's those times when I ask God exactly what the point is, because I think I missed it.

Yes, I know we're supposed to be living for His glory, but I often wonder if this cycle of what seems to be a repetitious rerun is what God had in mind when Jesus died to give us "abundant life."

 

[noeleena]

Hi.

A Plan ....hmmm. okay lets see , we are born and we need others to feed us and care for us and along the way we learn many things that are to help us in life , when do we stop having others look after us , and then we fend for our selfs , do we lose something then do we stop do we think we are incharge now its our / your turn .

Age 10 I knew who was incharge and it was not any one on this earth . The Lord saw to that , I'm 68 + and nothing has changed that , our lifes are not a hit and miss they are ordered they are controlled we don't need a ...plan...we just live ...it...

If there was a plan and I belive theres more than that we don't have to fret and worry and concern our selfs about it at all ,

The foot steps of a person are ordered by The Lord , getting it yet ,,,,,,

My life has been very interesting in much of what has happened to myself , over the years , at age 10 I knew things about myself and detail that was going to happen and at the appointed time they did ,

((( some will say ya ya a crack pot or nutter or some other demeaning words ))) I really don't mind because I know what took place , and can be checked out by many 100,s of people and most would be strangers to myself , so ,

Okay then . my trust is well and truly grounded , I know who is in control so no matter what I do will be in order .

Now does that say I'm perfect ,....no.... it means when I walk in the Lords footsteps I,ll be doing what I'm meant to be doing . can I turn to the left or right ...meaning I stop walking in the Lords Foot steps ,,,Yes of cause , that to is where I'm meant to be for that time , and then come back to the foot steps .

you see what I'm saying is you set a cause and go for it maybe to learn some lessons that you,ll need later in life , to set you up for a task or what ever it is , and without that training or what ever you would fail see whats going on .

DONT, KEEP LOOKING for whats not there , you,ll be 60 or 80 and still wont know what that so called plan was,

We all have..... GIFT,s..... so use them , I was trained in a number of details and I have contact with many 1000.s of people . and I use them . gifts that is .

So look at your self and see whats hidden away ,get it out and then ask the Lord to use them , mind you you may just tag along for the ride, trust me I know it works , the membership in our many groups is some 2000 people and yes every one knows myself and who I am.

now I have not got where I am now by myself ... okay.... I hope your getting this, The Lord went before me and opened the way and the doors

(( comment on doors some were real wooden doors with people behind them just they did not know The Lord was there , ))

for this dumb as backwards major dislexic Kid from no where to be given positions and incharge of many people doing all kinds of things not a detail to be taken lightly and with those responcability,s, and theres plenty of storys of people like myself who are where we need to be , Look at a few in the bible writings they are no different from us remember ,

Now you can take all of what I,v written and say cant happen or just lie,s well its well documented ,because what we do is written down with in our groups ,

and if I can be used by The Lord so can you and others ,

...noeleena...

 

[Lynx]

Miri, what you said about Abraham reminds me - Abraham never saw that promise. He left his home, family and everything familiar and he never saw the great nation God promised him. But it did happen.

I wonder if he ever felt like he was missing the plan.

 

[Kisses1990]

We make our own lives. It's important to stay positive and try a bunch of new things and basically seek happiness above all else. No one should sit around and wait for any plan to kick in. Also, how do you know it's a "wonderful" plan? God uses people in all sorts of ways. There are bad things that happen that shape you as a person and perhaps ten years down the road something makes sense to you or shapes your personality and thoughts because of some horrible things that could happen. It's not all sunshine and roses. If you believe in demon possession, take that case they made a movie about...the movie was called "The Exorcism of Emily Rose". That girl ended up dying. She suffered a great deal and thought that was in God's Plan. Don't assume that it will certainly be anything good or wonderful, because it won't always be all the time. Go out there and make your own plan and seek fulfillment and happiness and try to do your best to leave the planet in a better condition than you found it. Have fun with friends, help people, and laugh, most importantly. There will be ups and downs. Do something to try and curve climate change maybe to seek fulfillment? But I don't believe every little detail of our lives are planned out anyway, unless you don't believe in freewill. Determinists think that every little thing is already pre-determined. The type of breakfast you eat in 5 years is already set in stone because of various variables and influences that lead you precisely where you might be, exactly 5 years from now. I guess you could interpret that as being "God's Plan" too. Lots of ways to look at it.

 

[AbigailZeke]

Hmm, what's the difference between God's plan and God's will?

See, I was one of those that tell everyone else "God has a wonderful plan for your life!" And I tell myself that all the time, even if I wasn't sure what. I had big big plans. But I had a hard time distinguishing MY plan and GOD's plan. After spending hours of listening and reading about it and what exactly it was that He wanted me to do, I have discovered one simple truth that works for me. God leads every step of the way (Proverbs 3:6). So, instead of getting myself worked up trying to see the big picture, I think it's more important to Him that I trust Him and let Him lead my very next move. For example, I know it is God's plan for me to pray before I sleep tonight.

Now, God's vision for my life... that will be something else.

 

[chancer]

Something I have learned over the years is, that often it's better not knowing Gods plans for the future. If we know the vision, then we address it and lead it by our own broken perception. Man can have plans, but when God changes the course of events leading to His perfect plan, and redirects our steps, then we find out if we have built our faith on Jesus Christ, or our perception of His promise for us.

It's a painful lesson, because when God inevitably takes us a different way, or the long way round, we start to quote Jeremiah 29:11, to try and get a measure of a hope for the future, but its just positive thinking, with no tangible substance ... why?? Because our faith has to be in Him, He is the hope of our future, and our hope for today that doesn't disappoint.

If you know the plan, chances are you have already tried to systematically pursuit it. Some of us have already designed the next 5 years, with our 10 steps to accomplish God's plan in our own strength. Unless someone is mature, and what I mean is they have been round the block of disappointment a few times, and grasped that trust is an every day thing in the creator, and not in whether He makes us a pastor, worship leader, gives us a beautiful wife and 3 kids, a sense of fulfillment and purpose ... then it's actually better not to know.

My hot tip of the day - don't worry about the horizon, or you will not enjoy the road today.

That's why the Lord waits till your ready to tell you. He's ready but are we?

 

[Lynx]

seoulsearch I apologize for putting this in a serious thread, but... it just... just fits so well!

Pickles Comic Strip, April 17, 2009 on GoComics.com

 

[sassylady]

I have absolutely no idea. For right now I take care of my household and have little energy left for anything else. I wish I knew what direction to go in.

 

[PoetMary]

Well, I'm kind of the person you allude to in the original post...the one who always knew what she wanted to do. I've always known I wanted to be a teacher. On top of that, I've always been driven to do the right thing. So, I was the teen who never rebelled, always did her homework without being asked, was memorizing bible verses while other teens were off at parties--your basic good girl geek. Consequently, I made great grades in high school, went off to a small, private college where I continued being the good girl geek. I was paying my way through school and had a GREAT SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY so I couldn't screw it up by partying, or doing frivolous things. I made good grades, never asked my parents for money, generally handled life on my own, was president of a Christian organization on campus...etc. The most rebellious thing I did in college was get my ear double-pierced (and trust me, my mother was horrified).

Fast forward 20+ years in the career I've always been called to and a fairly steady continuation of the good girl geek life and I don't know that have really have a sense of fulfilling some great purpose...or even of fulfilling some mediocre purpose. I think it can be difficult to tease out what is purpose and what is just common sense decisionmaking...are they the same? When do they split off?

I know that people who have something to sell have a lot of explanations and descriptions of how people are meant to fill when they are fulfilling their purpose....there's meant to be a sense of surety, a sense of deep inner peace, a sense of joy, a sense of pleasure in the task...but how much of that is bible and how much of that is a kind of post-modern new-agey feel-good babble? I mean, do y'all really believe that Hosea felt JOY, SURETY, and INNER PEACE at being married to a prostitute who kept running away to sleep with other men? It doesn't even seem to me that Jesus was JOYOUS at the cross. Determined...yes. Resolved...yes. Submissive...yes. At peace...possibly (remember his sweat was like drops of blood in the garden).

Maybe it's the whole "feeling" thing that's the lie of the purpose-filled life. Maybe having a life of purpose might involve sacrificing your feelings...for the duration. I don't know. I do know that some things for me aren't sustainable. I can't sustain living unethically...even if it means I'm experiencing more pleasure.

The more I go on, the more I conclude that the purpose of life...at least mine...is to be in utter submission to God. Period. Without expectation.

 

[melita916]

first thing that came to mind

 

[seoulsearch]

The more I go on, the more I conclude that the purpose of life...at least mine...is to be in utter submission to God. Period. Without expectation.

This statement seems to fit where I'm at in my life perfectly.

Part of me accepts it. The other part of me still wants to try to fight it off (I know, I know... bad idea... But the struggle goes on.)

 

[NukePooch]

This statement seems to fit where I'm at in my life perfectly.

Part of me accepts it. The other part of me still wants to try to fight it off (I know, I know... bad idea... But the struggle goes on.)

The sooner you come to your senses and learn to submit entirely to God, the happier and healthier you'll be.






(and the sooner you can teach me how to do it myself)

 

[YankeesGurl]

Sorry, this made me laugh. haha

first thing that came to mind

 

[YankeesGurl]

I have been thinking on this and thinking on this.

My life has been full of some interesting dynamics lately. One of those dynamics had me the happiest I think I had been in over 15 years, and then to only be the saddest and confused and lacking understanding in a tough way. With that being said, part of that dynamic was someone asked me..... "Think on these things.....Ever wonder what God's purpose is for you?" and " Have you ever asked Him to break your heart for what breaks His?" Then they added Psalm 139:23-24


I don' t know why God has certain dymamics become part of the weave of our life.

I know for me, that a long time ago, I certainly made choices that derailed God for sure for a time because of my own "free will".
But once I got back on track, seeking Him will all of me, I have not heard for certain what His plan is for me.

Now, with that said, scripture also says that God will grant us the desires of our hearts. I have sincerely laid my desires down at the cross, not in a selfish manner, but in one that is....Lord, I want to serve you in this way.
He has not seen fit to have that come to pass yet....and He may have a plan that can fill the desires of my heart in such a way that I cannot imagine.

At these times, that I lack understanding and want to cry out, "Why....this seems to have not purpose...!!"

I Pause, and reflect....and pray...."God, what is YOUR purpose for my life?" "God, please break my heart for what breaks yours, and use me how you see fit to help." "God, search my heart, change the things in me that do not line up with You and Your word, and lead me down the paths of Your will. (Psalm 139:23-24)"

Its not an easy things, often times. But we do have a choice in how we do let things affect our heart and if we submit them unto God to use for His purpose and will. (not easy by any stretch at times.)

 

[zeroturbulence]

^^^ I was very angry about something this morning and didn't know if its something I should really be angry about or not and that last sentence jumped out at me. I wasn't even reading any posts..

 

[YankeesGurl]

The words of others can be very affirming, and what we need to hear at the time.

Glad the words of another, I can use now to guide and direct my thoughts and prayer life.

Glad that something from my post helped you with perspective. This walk in life certainly can be a tricky one.

Blessings!

^^^ I was very angry about something this morning and didn't know if its something I should really be angry about or not and that last sentence jumped out at me. I wasn't even reading any posts..

 

[zeroturbulence]

The words of others can be very affirming, and what we need to hear at the time.

Glad the words of another, I can use now to guide and direct my thoughts and prayer life.

Glad that something from my post helped you with perspective. This walk in life certainly can be a tricky one.

Blessings!

Thank you. You have no idea how much that helped. I'd been going over relevant scripture in my mind like 'do not fret it only leads to evil' and 'he will make your reward shine like the noonday sun', etc... but it was all just words to me and I felt that I've been a fool to believe that God cares about how I feel, then I saw what you posted and it was exactly the right message. God bless.

 

[Born_Again]

Hey Everyone,

How many of us have heard the so-often repeated phrase, "God has a wonderful plan for your life"? I'm guessing most of us would run out of fingers AND toes if we counted how many times we've heard or read this well-meaning summary of Jeremiah 29:11 ("For I know the plans I have for you... to give you hope and a future....")

But how many of us feel as if we've actually discovered this plan, or are even living it out?

What does the "plan of God" look like in one's life, exactly?

I have to admit that I envy the people who seem to have been given a straight and narrow road map to follow from early childhood. I've met a few people who pretty much "knew" what God called them to do, and their lives, for the most part, seemed to go "according to plan"--they became a teacher, got married, had 3 kids...

But for most people I know, it hasn't exactly worked out that way. First of all, many people I talk to have no idea what God "has planned" for their lives. Second, even if they think they know "their plan", they have no idea how to go about it ("God wants me to marry and have a family, but I'm 35 and don't have a boyfriend/girlfriend yet.")

Finally, what happens when and if you actually "discover" the plan, and get to live it out--does God's "plan" change for you over the span of your lifetime? (What would "the plan" look like when you're 20 vs. when you're 60?)

Questions to consider:

1. What is God's plan for your life? What advice have you received as far as how to find it?

2. What are you doing to follow this "plan"?

3. Do you feel God's plan for you has changed over the years?

Personally, my life hasn't turned out anything like what I thought my "plan" would be.

Sometimes I wonder if what God really offers most of us is an "Unplan"--something kind of like, "Don't get too set on any one thing, because there are several changes I'm going to make along the way, and you're going to have to let go of (unplan) several of your own ideas for your life."

Thoughts? Experiences? Something to share?

I would love to read what you have to say.

Well, in context, that verse was addressed to the Israelites while they were enslaved. It was God telling them they He had plans to prosper them. We often get confused by this verse when we don't "prosper". So don't use this verse if you are disappointed in what God may have not done in your life. But God's plan is still perfect.

 

[wwjd_kilden]

first thing that came to mind

Lol, yes, that is one of the best Friends- quotes ever (and so suitable for this thread! )

 

[tourist]

I have no idea what God's wonderful plan for my life is. So far I've been flying on a wing and a prayer.