God has a plan, do you?

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Sanctification”

Our Bible verse for today: “For I know the plans I have for you” – this is the Lord’s declaration – “plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. I will be found by you …” (CSB)

Our thought for today: “God has a plan, do you?”

Welcome to 2024. You now have before you 365 brand new days in which God can and will continue His wonderful plan for your life. And here’s the thing: He does have a plan; it is a good plan; and much of it will probably surprise you. The fact is that things will happen in the new year that you are not anticipating and which you therefore are not planning for. Most of those things will probably seem good to you, others maybe not so much. You just don’t know, but God does.

So then, how do we prepare ourselves for the coming year, and how do we go forward into it with some degree of intentionality, purpose, and confidence? Many people (including me) make New Year’s resolutions to guide us and to keep us on track. These are usually things like losing weight, exercising more, paying off debt, completing some projects, and so on. Those things are good, and achieving them will make our lives better. We should have goals and plans because goals and plans keep us motivated and on track. As has often been said, “If you aim at nothing you will hit it every time.” In other words, if you have no goals and objectives, it doesn’t really matter how you spend your time. But if you want to achieve something helpful and meaningful, you will have to be intentional about it.

So, having a plan of our own is good. But what about God’s plan? And what about the truth that we can’t even conceive of, much less prepare for, some of what God has in store for us in the coming 365 days? I believe there is something we can and must do in order to prepare ourselves for whatever it is God has planned for us. And, incidentally, it is something we can make into a New Year’s resolution.

All this month we will explore the Biblical principle of “sanctification.” “Sanctification is a theological term that describes the process by which God progressively transforms us from who we were, into who He wants us to be. It is a process of spiritual growth that begins the moment we place our faith in Christ. It then continues throughout our lifetime and it is completed the moment we arrive in heaven. While the results of sanctification come about as a result of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we have a role to play in the process too. We have to engage in the practice of good discipleship.

If you are a Christian, and if you are doing your part by being intentional about practicing your faith and growing in your relationship with Christ, you are in the process of being sanctified and you are growing spiritually. And the more spiritually mature you are, the more prepared you will be for whatever comes your way as 2024 unfolds.

We will think more about this in the days and weeks to come. I look forward to learning and growing with you.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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