What are the odds? (zero) That can’t be a coincidence? (it isn’t)
There are zero odds and no coincidences.
Psalm 103:19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
His kingdom rules over all. Sounds good to me. I wouldn’t want to have to manage all this. But if I don’t want to, then why do I keep trying? Apparently I don’t trust God enough to do manage it for me. And it’s exhausting because when I try to manage it I’m doing something that I wasn’t created to do. I’ve addressed this before…I’m hanging on to this life manager position for dear life…My life. God, please help me truly resign! Maybe I need to resign in phases. Sorta like when a business plans for its closing. Going out of business soon…sounds good to me.
What do I need to get rid of first? I’ll create a step by step going out of business plan. I’ll make a list (insert smile here). 1). Planning for my future 2). Hmmmm not sure yet…It’s probably not a good sign that only one thing is coming to mind (and that was a very weak list)(insert sad face here). I guess I’ll just get started on #1 and maybe more will appear. I hope so or this will be a very short entry. So far, my going out of business plan isn’t too impressive. Surely I can’t fail at both planning and list making all in one entry.
1) Planning for my future. How do I let go of insisting on being the creator of my own plans? And how do I stop trying to manage my plans for my future? I’ll look at what God says about plans and my future.
Jeremiah 29:11 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.
This is my favorite bible verse. Why is it my favorite? Is it because it feels comforting to me? I think so. But if I find it so comforting then why don’t I just let God do what he says he will? I don’t know. Seems there are lots of questions in this entry and not a lot of answers. Honestly, I feel I’m sorta avoiding the answers. That’s also probably not a good sign. I really do need to close out this business sooner rather than later. So I can get started on God’s plans for me. God’s plans are coming soon!
The bible verse is about plans (my favorite topic!). But the verse is about God’s plans not my plans (the battle lives on). What are God’s plans for me? And when do I get to find out what they are? How do I find out what they are? My first thought is to read my bible. And let God speak to me through his Word. Actually that’s my only thought. I believe God is showing me something in that. That my striving to know God’s plan is the actual reason I don’t know it. I’m the reason that I don’t know his plan. That God alone is the one who reveals through his Word. And I need to stop trying to figure it out myself. So writing this entry about plans has shown me why I don't know God’s plans. Surely that cant be a coincidence? (it isn’t)
Another aspect of the verse I’m noticing is that God is DECLARING the plans. A declaration! Sounds powerful! Sounds exciting! Sounds confident! Seems like it has been all worked out in advance (it has).
Isaiah 25:1 LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.
Sounds great! Because there’s nothing I need to figure out myself then. Have you noticed I keep saying that over and over and over in my entries? There must be a reason. Is God trying to show me something? What are the odds of that continually coming up and it not being significant? (zero)
And in my favorite bible verse, God’s plans are to prosper me. Wonderful! Yes, please (insert check mark here). But what does that mean? Prosper. Sounds incredible. According to the dictionary (and now that I’m writing I actually use a dictionary)(even more impressive is my use of a thesaurus)(ok back to the point) prosper includes to have success, to thrive, and to flourish. Thank you God, Yes those all work for me. I’m impressed. Good plan.
Next, God’s plans do not include harming me. That sounds so reassuring. But do I truly believe that? Sadly I do not think I do. Because my actions of so insistently holding on to my life manager position show that I don’t really trust God. My actions show that I’m only trusting myself to keep harm away from me. That’s where I’ve gone wrong. I’m commanded to focus on God’s declarations not mine. Period. My declarations and believing mine over God’s is the very thing that is harming me. How in the world have I not made that connection before? Surely that can’t be a coincidence ? (it isn’t) What are the odds of that? (zero)
The verse keeps getting better. God plans to give things to me. Something given to me is a gift. Gifts coming from God sounds glorious! Perhaps this is God’s grace. His loving care. I don't think there’s anything more to say expect…God is good. Praise you God.
And what is God going to give me? Hope. Hope is a beautiful thing. God’s hope transcends circumstances. God’s hope is far above the world. God’s hope IS. I don’t think there’s anything more to say except…God is good. Praise you God.
And to end the verse God is giving me a future. The future He planned for me. Because I’m valuable to him and he loves me. There’s nothing more perfect than that. I don’t think there’s anything more to say except…God is good. Praise you God.
Side note: In this entry, I declared that plans are my favorite thing. I declared Jeremiah 29:11 which is about God’s plans for me is my favorite bible verse. So what are the odds that my favorite thing and favorite bible verse are both about plans? (zero) Surely that can’t be a coincidence? (it isn’t)
And to end this entry, I feel God has used my favorite bible verse to bring me his truth. He’s used that verse to heal me and show me what’s actually harming me. Praise you God that you’ve known this all along for me.
So perhaps I should keep the title of this entry.
What are the odds? (zero) That can’t be a coincidence (it isn’t)
So here it is.
Blog entry Sixteen
Follow God and Bake from your Heart,
Ellie