ELM - On His Mind

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you…’ Jeremiah 1:5.  “I make known the end from the beginning…what is still to come.” Isaiah 46:10.  “For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11.

There is a location on Lake Wylie one road over where Bruce and I have always gone to spend time together.  For over 24 years we have taken our chairs, music and some of our favorite things as we sat overlooking the lake.  We have witnessed thousands of afternoons when the earth beckoned the sun to come to bed.  We have laughed on that hill and cried on that hill as the ebb and flow of our lives together have played out.  I can remember like it was yesterday when we discussed the decision of having more children.  That day we sat on a quilt and talked extensively about a child who wasn’t even born yet…but nonetheless, a child who was in our minds and on our hearts.  By the end of that evening we had chosen to have another child and had beautiful discussions regarding the life of that child.  We tried our best to provide all of the good things to our children, steering them away from things that were unsafe or not beneficial in their lives. Our children are now grown and while we cannot see up ahead in their lives, we do the best we can walking alongside them as they walk out their lives.    

Thankfully we have a Father who can see up ahead and desires to guide us with every step we take.  Like we did with our children, He thought about us before we were even formed.  He carefully considered our purpose in life and chose our gifts specifically for that purpose.  He determined the path He would guide us on, and is delighted with the things He has planned to give us.  He makes decisions for us based on what lies up ahead in front of us.  He guides and reveals to us through His spirit what is still to come to help us discover the treasures of His blessings.  He is eternity focused and Kingdom driven so our purposes are intentional as He guides us into them.  ‘God did not create us for time but for eternity.  Every word, act, and purpose of God is in the context of His eternal perspective.  God never acts for the moment but works with the full knowledge of all that has occurred…leading up to the present time.  He does not speak or act...without knowing what the consequences will be…God knows everything about your future.  He foresees what crisis you’ll face as well as every triumph you’ll enjoy’ Experiencing God, p. 17.

This is wonderful news this morning as I consider all of the things I will face and the decisions I must make.  We are not left to this world on our own but are meant to walk in the daily decisions and dreams of our Father.  I can just picture God spreading out His spiritual quilt 54 years ago enjoying His sunset, and thinking about the life He would give me.  Like that quilt my unlived life was laid out before Him as He saw all the good and perfect gifts from His hand.  Be encouraged and humbled by the fact that every day was a planned day by our Father before one day was ever experienced by you.

‘Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights…’ James 1:17.