Calvin Synod Herald, 2017 (118. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2017-01-01 / 1-2. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD 9 long time before, “You’re failure to plan does not constitute an emergency on my part.” There is another saying that I’ve heard that goes along with this as well, “Failure to plan, is actually planning to fail.” It doesn’t have to be that way. And, our scripture from Jeremiah 29:11-29:13 verses point that out to us: Listen to those scripture verses again 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. So Go into the New Year with: His Planning His Purpose His Provisions Go into the New Year with: His Planning We have to say that this first part is the most important. For I know the plans 1 have for you...There are two types of Christians that this is aimed at. First of all, there is the planner. But, he is not the kind of planner we want to be. Yes, this planner will go into the New Year with everything all planned. He will have his job plans, with his promotion schedule and commissions worked out. He has his family plans, with his stock and pension plans worked out. But, he will leave something out. In fact, he leaves out the most important part of planning. Does anyone happen to know what the most important part of planning is? Leaving it up to God! (Proverbs 3:5-6) Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. It’s very important that we understand that we cannot leave God out. Remember what the Prophet said: “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. ” Now the other Christian that this is aimed at is the non-planner. This is the person that will wander and wonder through the entire year, without seeking God and the plans that He has for them. These two people are just alike, because they are both out of fellowship with God. They are both relying on sources other than God to provide for them. The coming year is the same as any other. It has 12 months, 52 weeks 365 days 8,760 hours 525,600 minutes 31,536,000 seconds Now, just how do we spend all that time? 3'Á months will be spent sleeping [seven hours a night], 16 days will be spent eating, 9 days will be spent in church, 50 - 80 days will be spent working [75 for average 8-hours a day, with normal holidays.] 5-10 days will be spent traveling to work, With all that moving, working, eating, sleeping, etc., the average person still has at least 100 days that are unaccounted for and that can be used by God to improve them, if they’ll let God do that. I cannot over-emphasize the importance that Godly planning has on your: Quality of Life Longevity of Life Purpose in Life Direction in Life These are very important parts of your life that you cannot trust to anyone else, except God. Additionally, trusting God ensures you don’t waste any time in trying to make up your mind, or changing your mind. So, with planning, you have three choices: * We can make our best plans and try to carry them out in our own strength. * We can make careful plans and ask God to bless them. * Or, we can begin with God, ask Him about HIS plans, and offer ourselves to Him to carry out His purposes. I’ve listened to many speakers and politicians, what they have said. But, for the most part, these will all pass away without notice as they only focused on themselves. Oddly enough, it will be the simple minister that follows God’s will and plan for His life that will be remembered. For example, look upon the life of Billy Graham. Very simple man, very simple message, very simple life, very simple planning, but these based on God and His Plans for his life. Secondly........Go into the New Year with: His Purpose An active relationship with God is what makes life complete, it is what gives meaning to life, it is what gives us our purpose in life. Without that relationship with God and the assurance and hope that we will one day spend the rest of eternity in heaven with Him, there is a void, a vacuum in life, a whole in our hearts. You see, without God there is no purpose in life, we are simply inventing ways and devices to fill up twentyfour hours of the day.
