Be Present: Plan for The Day by Robert Dickerson

Encounter the Word:

“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]

All glory and praise be to the GOD in heaven who sent His Son down to earth to show us the perfect example of how to live our lives, Who took on all of the mistakes and misdeeds of the world, and paid the penalty. He was raised up and now lives in the heart of heaven, controlling all aspects of the universe around us.

GOD has had a plan since long, long ago, which He has provided for all of your needs, foreseeing every challenge that you'll face and providing a path through them. Can you image all of the intricate details He's worked out so that all of the chaos of this world will eventually come together to exalt His character and culminate in His glorious return?

Jesus is doing great things among His people. Those that stay focused on Him are touching the lives around them, sharing His message of love and grace. As we begin a new day, make sure to start off on the right foot, praising GOD for putting you into His great plan of redemption for the people of earth. He knows the mistakes you've left open from yesterday. He sees the broken relationships that linger on, but for all of this, He's worked it out if we'll just listen to His voice.

“All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.” –Ephesians 1:20-23 [Message]

You are part of the larger body of Christ. Depend on Him and His followers and praise Him in advance for placing the people and resources you'll need for the challenges of this day in your life already.

Encounter Prayer:

Thank you Jesus for looking out for me, in this vast and endless universe you still take the thought and energy to plan an individual route for me that leads to Your glory. Thank you for planning paths for my family and friends that leads to Your redeeming grace. Thank you for actively pursuing us since the day we were born. We live for You. We choose to follow You. May we share the many blessings you've freely shared with someone else, to show them who You are and how they can be saved from their troubles. Blessed be Your name Lord. Blessed be Your name in all the earth.  Amen.

Encounter:

• What plans have I laid out for today?
• What plans has GOD laid out for me for today?
• In the context of Ephesians 1, where can I draw my confidence from as I enter this day?

Devotional by Robert Dickerson.  Posted by A. Allan Martin by permission.

Be Present: Game Plan by Barbara Quaye

I like to have a game plan.

As a college student I am thinking about things from clubs to classes. It is a different lifestyle. One day I may have classes till early afternoon, drive to a community service event, then come back to school for an evening banquet. My major gives me the responsibility of mastering various disciplines in my field, so I’m forced to figure out what I should be studying for the next week. College life seems to be all about schedules, planning, and getting ahead.

Apart from school, I have all kinds of everyday things to work in; from car inspections to grocery trips to dental appointments to oil changes. As a “picky dresser” I start Sunday evening by picking a week’s worth of clothing. Otherwise, I will try on five outfits, before I go with the first choice. I like crossing off the calendar days as I get closer to an event we have been planning for or an upcoming birthday party to attend.

I’m living for tomorrow.

When tomorrow finally comes around, I think about the next day. Makes for a busy week. Now I’m not saying it is wrong to plan ahead; I might not study if I don’t have a schedule or I might become a neighborhood restaurant regular if I didn’t plan time to cook. I am simply saying that sometimes we are so caught up in planning for tomorrow, that we forget about today. We forget about right now.

Christ Jesus told us “Give your entire attention to what GOD is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow [Matthew 6:34, Message].”

At times, that is a little difficult for me. As a collegian, so much of my energy is wrapped up in tomorrow; I do like to have a solid idea about what will be happening next.

But GOD calls us to be present; to not obsess about the pressures of tomorrow and learn to live more fully in today’s moments.

Earlier in Matthew 6, Christ talks about how the lilies are more beautiful than any clothing store can design. He also says how the birds of the air don’t plant or store away things for later yet they have food to eat. That sounds like being a cozy heir; that is what GOD wants to do for us. He knows our needs and will provide. I don’t need to stress about the future. GOD promised us in Jeremiah 29:11 that He already has a life strategy for each of us. All that is left for us to do is stop, trust and “Be Present.”

Now that sounds like a great plan.

Encounter the Word:

“And this same GOD who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” --Philippians 4:9 [NLT]

Encounter:

• What are some things you like to plan for? What plans stress you out? Why?
• What would happen if you let GOD lead in your plans?  What might you experience in your today?
• Where in your life might you trust GOD a bit more?
• What steps can you take to rely more on Christ Jesus and discover His game plan?

 Devotional by Barbara Quaye of Younger Generation Church. Posted by A. Allan Martin by permission.