Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and welcome to the last day of the year.
Boy, has this year flown by and here we are standing on the edge of 2013. What will the New Year bring? What does God have in store? People will be making some important decisions that will shape the next 12 months for them — like Rick, for instance! Rick is a talented graphic designer who works at a successful advertising agency, but he really felt unsettled with all the corporate competition. He dreamed of beginning his own firm where he could set his own hours and be more involved in ministry, yet he also has a wife and three children. He knew if he failed, everyone would suffer. He might even lose his savings trying to begin his own business.
Rick prayed to be shown the plan of God for his life, and he asked the Lord whether he should start his own firm or stay put. But as he prayed about this, a disturbing thought began to surface: He was afraid it was too late. He was afraid he had missed God's plan for his life back in college — that’s when he had gone to Urbana, the student missionary conference held this time of year. Back then, he had signed up to pursue missions, but once he returned to college, he was talked out of it. He couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened had he used his skills to spread the Gospel back then instead of creating advertising pages for magazines. He wondered that maybe he was so far from God's will for his life that it was pointless to try to get back to it, much less ask God to guide him within his current “disobedient” plan.
Rick’s situation is pretty common for many Christians. It’s our lack of understanding the difference between the plan and the will of God. Because when you take a hard look at scripture, there is no plan B for a Christian. We think that every time we make a stupid mistake, or another bad decision, we drop down a notch to plan C and then more stupid decisions result in plan D and then plan E and so on. And, of course, being the sinners that we are, we very quickly run out of letters in the alphabet. But for those who are in Christ, there is only one plan. It holds firm and secure despite all our ridiculous mistakes and sins. This plan reveals the wonder of God's shepherding care and the detail of his love through his overarching decrees that guide our life. The Bible teaches that God has one specific plan for your life and the events and the choices you make — and here’s the important word — irresistibly work that plan out in every detail. God's will for you, God's plan is to make you more like Christ, and it accounts for all your mistakes. This was really good news for Rick. It meant he didn’t have to climb out of the hole he dug for himself in order to get back into God's will for his life.
So, what about your life? What decisions are facing you as you face a New Year? Well, I’d like to tell you more in an excellent little booklet called “Guidance: Have I Missed God's Best?” This booklet will take you through the scriptures that will help you understand the way our sovereign God uses the decisions you make now to fulfill His preordained purpose for your life. It’s a great booklet to start off 2013 with, so please go to my radio page today at joniandfriends.org and I'll get a copy in the mail to you right away. Or, you can always write me at Joni and Friends, Post Office box 3333, Agoura Hills, California 91376. And remember what Ephesians chapter 1, verse 11 says: “He works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.” We'll look for you at joniandfriends.org.
© Joni and Friends, 2012
Compliments of Joni and Friends
PO Box 3333 Agoura Hills, CA 91376