Today's Devotion Sunday, October 22, 2000 "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) Today's Thought We all plan ahead . . . we plan vacations, we plan holidays, we play parties, we plan get-togethers! We plan to go shopping . . . we plan what we're going to buy, we plan what meals we can make with the food we buy, we plan our supper meal during the day. We make plans . . . all the time, and most times without even thinking twice about it. It's a way of life! God makes plans too. He sees a bigger picture than we do and He knows the path we will walk to get to the point He is taking us. When He made his "plans" for us, I'm sure He looked at it and said, "It is good!" simply because His plans for us are for our good! But, you may say, "Why do I suffer heartache?", or "Why am I so sick?", or "Why is everything going wrong?" To put it very simply, we don't see the "BIG" picture He sees, we only see the moment in which we live we live. We deal with today and the effect of all our yesterdays. But His plan includes many tomorrows that lead us into His divine will for our lives! His will includes disappointments, disillusionments, and even sometimes tragedy . . . but it's all to lead us to a greater dependency on Him, a deeper intimacy in our relationship with Him, and stronger hold on His unfailing hand! Don't allow your today's to rob you of the blessing tomorrow may bring. Keep your eyes fixed on Him . . . press into Him with all the strength you can muster up! Believe His Word . . . He knows the plans He has for you . . . plans that will prosper you and not harm you . . . plans that give you hope and a future! What better plan could He devise than our hope of a future in eternity with Him! Whatever it takes, wherever He leads, I want to be on the path He has designed for me . . . the path that leads me to worship at His feet in the Throneroom of the Most High God! I pray the same for you! Today's Prayer Father, Your ways are so much higher than mine and I admit that many times I can't understand what's happening and why. Lord, help me submit to You more by allowing You to have Your way in my life, and wherever the path You have prepared for me may lead, I declare to You that I want to be on it! It may be a hard path, I may face difficulties untold, but my hope is fixed on a future in eterinty with You, loving You, worshipping You, and glorifying You! Father, I love You and I submit my life . . . I yield my will to You to lead me down the path You have prepared for me. Give me the strength and remind me of the hope I have in You as my life fulfills the plan You have for me! Amen! Guide me, O thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land. I am weak, but thou art mighty; hold me with thy powerful hand. Bread of heaven, bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more; feed me till I want no more. Open now the crystal fountain, whence the healing stream doth flow; let the fire and cloudy pillar lead me all my journey through. Strong deliverer, strong deliverer, be thou still my strength and shield; be thou still my strength and shield. When I tread the verge of Jordan, bid my anxious fears subside; death of death and hell's destruction, land me safe on Canaan's side. Songs of praises, songs of praises, I will ever give to thee; I will ever give to thee. [Text: William Williams, 1717-1791; trans. from the Welsh by Peter Williams] Have a blessed day! Jan Ross jross@... http://focusontheword.com ICQ#18767082 "Sha'alu Shalom Yerushalayim" (Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem) Psalm 122:6 ~*~*~*~*~*~* Focus On the Word Banner Exchange--Sign Up Today and Receive 2,500 Free Credits http://focusontheword.com/banex [NOTE: Today's Devotion is provided automatically to all subscribers of End-Times, End-Times_News, and FOW-Bible discussion lists as well as many others who have requested subscriptions. If you do not wish to receive them, please follow the directions at the end of this message to unsubscribe. Please feel free to share these with friends and loved ones, and encourage others to subscribe also. Thank you!]