Beginning the new year submitted to God’s plans
For many people, the beginning of a new year represents turning over a new leaf and pursuing new opportunities to better ourselves. At the start of the year, many of us commit to new years resolutions and while there’s nothing inherently wrong with having goals and plans for ourselves, how many of us can say that we’ve consulted God on what His plans are for us this coming year? We could start off the year with a sincere motivation to accomplish our goals but nearly 80% of us end up disappointed when we fail to reach our resolve or even wind up feeling empty when we’ve reached our own idea of success. We may have good intentions for our life but there’s our plan and then there’s God’s good and perfect plan for us.
"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
God has a unique purpose for each one of us–a good and usually uncommon plan that’s anything but average. God’s plan for us was prepared before we were even born so that we would accomplish good works for the glory of God. God’s plans are for our good, for progress and success, even though we may not always see it that way. Unlike the Lord, we have limited understanding so what may seem like a good idea to us in the present could have potentially detrimental consequences in the future. God not only sees where you are right now but what you can become. We can save ourselves from a whole lot of disappointment if we choose to seek God’s will for us over our own desires.
God’s plan for us isn’t something that just falls into our lap—we have to participate in that plan for it to come to fruition. The will and desire of God for us cannot and will not come to pass if we refuse to cooperate with God or we stray from His will. God usually doesn’t do something without our cooperation, which means that we need to spend time with Him every single day to listen, learn and grow so that our potential can be actualized. Ultimately, God's purpose will stand the test of time and produce spiritual fruit in our life. When we trust in the Lord and commit to the plan He has spoken to our heart, He will establish our steps and help us develop our gifts, talents and capabilities to accomplish His will. We need only to have an open and willing heart submitted to God’s eternal perspective rather than our own temporary goals.
As we ring in 2022, don’t make empty resolves that will only lead to disappointment but seek God’s prosperous plan for you this coming year. Whatever He has revealed to you, cooperate with His plan no matter how strange it may seem and watch it be wonderfully fulfilled in and through you. May you be blessed abundantly as you submit to Him who gives us a hope and future to long for.
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