Hope and Future
God has a promise for you. He promises that the plan He has for your life is one of prosperity and hope.
“If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible...If anyone sins and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though they do not know it, they are guilty and will be held responsible. It is a guilt offering; they have been guilty of wrongdoing against the Lord.”
Leviticus 5:1, 17, 19
God teaches His people that His standards, plans, and expectations are always higher than ours. This passage teaches us that both action and inaction can cause separation when we fall short of God's ways.
What can help? Pursue God. He is a Good Father who loves you and wants to guide you. Implied in what He teaches is that He wants to help us know how to live the kingdom life. We live in an information age where it is not hard to gain knowledge, but even more than knowledge we need to pursue revelation. He says it is not enough to say you do not know what is right because the reason we do not know is that we can fail to listen to His voice. Consider stopping and asking God today if there is anything that you need to know to help free yourself from anything that is not from or for Him?
“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care...Today, if only you would hear his voice”
Psalms 95:6-7
David teaches us the posture of our hearts and bodies that can draw us closer to God. There can be a benefit internally when we move externally. Bending our knees and bowing down changes your perspective. When we kneel we are saying, God you are Lord and you are in charge.
How often do you take the time to kneel, bow down, or physically lower yourself before the Lord? While it could be physically challenging, is it possible it would be spiritually uplifting?
“We rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine. How right they are to adore you!”
Song of Songs 1:4
Think of a time you felt joyful. What happened? What helped you feel that way? God invites us to learn to live a life of worship where we rejoice and find our lights in and through Him. Wisdom says we are right to adore God and that in the process of adoration we can unlock joy each day.
Do you want more joy? Do you want to experience delight in God? Bow the desires of your heart to a heart to desire God and you will experience more joy.
“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 on 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.”
Jeremiah 29:4-5, 7, 11-13
There are truths that you can build your life upon. This is one of them. Our Heavenly Father has good plans for your life. Regardless of how far off you might have traveled or what you have done, your actions do not change God's plans. He is the God of restoration, redemption, and resurrection. You are always one step from stepping towards the plans God has for you.
What does it take? Listening to the voice of truth over the voice of lies. The enemy wants to create fear, doubt, shame and guilt. The enemy wants you to believe that you are unworthy, unqualified, and unlovable. God delights in you and wants the redeeming love of Jesus to bring you back to a place of hope and expectation. Ask God what plans He has for you and learn to listen to the voice that will lift you up.
“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!...Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.”
Acts 7:2-3, 48-49, 51, 55-56, 59-60
Stephen shared the story of God working through people. He told of God's plan to bless and guide His people. What went wrong? The people in the crowd would not bend their knees and be humble about what they had done. They did not have ears to hear or humble hearts to respond to the truth that God's plan was playing out right in front of their eyes. What did they do? They killed Stephen. They did not know that what they had done was wrong in God's sight, but that did not change that their ways fell short of God's. Just like the text in Leviticus.
How can the story of Stephen impact our lives? We can hear the truth that God has great plans and those in plan us participating. As we humble our hearts, hear God's voice, and respond to His leading us on the road or back from the places we have gone astray, we can find the power of hope. Hope that tomorrow can be better and God's plans will prevail. Hope that regardless of what others do, we can have peace in our hearts. Hope that we are never too far gone to be brought back to a life connected to and empowered by God to help others.
The invitation today is to declare the truth, bend your knees, and stand on God's promise. Heavenly Father, I believe your words are true. You have good plans for my life. Plans to prosper and not harm. Plans with a hope and a future and I give you my whole heart so I can receive all that you have for me.