God's Plan for You

Everyone has a plan, I think, even if you may not be a natural strategist or an eye for details. Some of us may pay other people to plan for our behalf, such as insurance or financial plans. However, God also has a plan for us, just in case you (even me) may not either realise or remember, hence, requiring somebody, something or the Spirit, to constantly remind you (and me) that God HAS a plan for you, which is different from the world (such as your friendly financial planner) can give. His plan is BETTER.

I have been reading Joyce Meyer's "How to Hear from God" and one of the questions worth reflection was:

"Do you believe that God has a good plan to prosper you, a plan to give you hope and a future? If so, how does your life reflect this belief? If not, pray and ask God to help you accept and believe His Word."

I believe God has a good plan to prosper me, a plan to give me hope and a future (Jer. 21). Here, I am not trying to state the obvious. If the above question has been asked last year or earlier, I would have replied that I "know" God has a plan to prosper me. You see, "knowing" God has a plan for you does not equate to "believing" God has a plan for you.

Recently, I had this urge to sit down and to list all the reasons for me to stay and to leave the teaching service. This sudden urge also caused me to a realization that my reasons for staying were probably not the best reasons for anyone who is either wanting to pursue or already pursuing a career in teaching.

Approaching three and the half years since graduating from NIE, I did not either enjoy or feel that I have done exceptionally well working with my past and present students, and colleagues. Deep inside, I never see myself teaching forever and maybe I should be looking for other job opportunities. But by God's grace, and not that I am trying to show-off my abilities, I am able to secure some performance bonuses, took on higher responsibilities, achieved recognition for my last school and eventually, able to move from one school to another, which is a very, very good school (and here I shall not name which school). Even then, I do feel that I am not needed in this school and perhaps, I should either ask for a transfer to another school, HQ or to leave the service.

I am not certain (or maybe I have to reflect more on this..)how did I manage all the above and why God allow me to stay in teaching when I feel I sucked in the job. Looking back to the day when I received my scholarship to do a Fine Art degree, though I am not so certain, God seemed to have crafted a plan for me to stay in art education.

After prayer for a breakthrough in my career, I have just sent my resume for a job in a local museum and during the process of firming up my resume and sending it, I could feel a sense of peace and anticipation as though the email to the museum was my beacon of hope for a better tomorrow - getting called, interviewed and eventually hired for the job. But if I were to be turned down by the museum, I believe I will not be discouraged as I believe He will open a better way for me elsewhere!

How to Hear from God When You're in a Crisis

(The following article was forwarded by a brother in the church:)

A number of years ago, I tried to rent an apartment from a lady I knew. Oddly enough, even though she was a Spirit-filled, church-going, Bible-toting Christian, she wouldn’t rent me the apartment. I found out why a few days later. When thinking about renting me the apartment she had prayed, “God, if I’m supposed to rent the apartment to Bayless, the telephone needs to ring so many times before 2:00 pm.” Well, the phone didn’t ring enough times before 2:00 pm that day, so she thought it obviously wasn’t God’s will for her to rent the apartment to me! 

You may laugh, but Christians do this kind of thing all the time. If there is not something specific in the Word that directs us concerning a decision we must make, we often want a sign from God to give us direction… especially when we are in a crisis. 

Elijah, an Old Testament prophet was like that. When the evil Queen Jezebel was trying to hunt him down and take his life, Elijah fled to the same mountain where God had spoken to Moses. During that encounter between God and Moses there had been a tempest, fire, and earthquake (Hebrews 12:18, Exodus 19:18). God’s guidance to Moses had been bold and unmistakable. It seems Elijah was looking for the same kind of signs and bold direction from God. 

But what’s interesting about Elijah’s experience on Mount Sinai… and what’s important for you and me to remember when we’re in a crisis… is that God didn’t speak to him through external outward signs like wind, earthquakes, or fire. Look at what 1 Kings 19:11-12 says, 

And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 

As with Elijah, I believe that most of the time that God leads us, it’s going to be through the still, small whisper of the Spirit in our heart. Yet many people want more than that. Some people think, “I’m in a desperate situation! I need something more!” 

But here’s the point. Because of Jesus Christ, we have something much better. Because we live under a new covenant, you and I have God on the inside. And generally, when God is going to guide us, He does it using that still, small voice from within. 

Think about it: The greatest event that could happen to a human being is the new birth. And how does God let us know that it has happened to us? Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” 

Angels don’t come and unroll scrolls and tell you that you’re saved. Fire doesn’t dance around your living room and tell you that you’re saved. God doesn’t send an earthquake or a mighty rushing wind to let you know that you’re saved. Instead, He gives us the witness of His Holy Spirit from within. 

If God confirms the most important decision we’ll ever make in life by the inward witness of the Spirit, why should we look for some outward sign to give us direction when we’re in a crisis? When you look for the spectacular, you’re liable to miss the supernatural that is right in front of you all along. 

Maybe today, you’re in a crisis. Perhaps it’s crunch time. And maybe you want the wind, an earthquake, or a fire. Let me tell you, God is not going to give you any of that. What He will give to you… and every one of His children… is that still small whisper of the Spirit. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and they follow Me.” And the way we hear His voice is through the Holy Spirit who has taken up residence within us. 

We just have to be quiet enough to hear!