Did you know that God has an interest in your future as well? Even though it would not come true until the end of their captivity, consider His promise to the Israelites in Jeremiah 29:11-14: “ ‘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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord.”

God Cares!
Isn’t that an encouraging and comforting passage? The God of the universe, who is all-powerful and all-knowing, loves and cares for each of His children and has a wonderful plan for our lives! If we’re walking in obedience and seeking His will, all we have to do is trust Him to reveal His plan for us.

This seems easy to do, but unfortunately, it can also be a struggle at times. We want to be the master of our own destiny. We don’t want to let God lead, because His plans are often out of step with our own. I speak from experience, because I’ve had to overcome my desire to have it my way!

When I was in high school, I remember telling my family and friends that I wanted to get married at a certain age, have kids a few years later and enjoy a career that generated a six-figure income. As it turned out, I’ve remained single while my friends have exchanged vows and had babies. As far as that six- figure income . . . well . . . let’s just say that I’m more realistic now.

Obviously, my life has taken some unanticipated turns in the road. I still believe the Lord wants to give me the desires of my heart (Psalm 37:4), but I’ve had to conform them to His purposes.

Is Jesus Lord?
I heard a pastor say that God’s main thrust for our lives isn’t our happiness and satisfaction. It’s His desire that we live according to His perfect will, which is always in our best interest. When we’re in sync with God’s plan, we can rest assured that it’s the ideal situation — even if it doesn’t make sense or meet our approval.

Jesus Christ will be Lord of all or not Lord at all. It’s natural to have goals and interests, but keep an open mind to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Don’t get so determined to have your own way that you ignore the small voice inside!

The most important thing you can do is pray about your decisions. The Scriptures tell us that He’ll hear your prayers and help you see the wonderful plan described in His Word. Consider these additional verses:

• Proverbs 3:5-6
• Isaiah 30:21
• Matthew 6:33

I don’t know about you, but these Scriptures make me want to breathe a sigh of relief. What a comfort to know that our lives are in God’s hands — we can trust His plan with assurance!