His plans are for my good

Strategy.

It’s a word we hear used all over the place. We talk strategy in my corporate workplace. We hear strategy in sports. We strategize and plan for major church events. It’s all over the place.

Typically a strategy is a plan that is carefully designed to bring a chosen result, an expected end, if you will.

A few weeks ago, in my prayer time, I heard in my spirit that we often come forward with our plans, our expectations, our needs in prayer. We seek, in earnest and full faith, the miracles/provision/guidance/etc. that we know can only come from the Father.

Now, there isn’t anything wrong with coming boldly before the throne to make our petition known. That’s biblical. However, there’s a heart posture that is required.

I can’t want what I need from the Lord more than I want HIM. I can’t expect to come boldly seeking what I need without seeking the giver of all good things.

You see…

If I never see another answered prayer.

If I never experience the power of the Holy Spirit again.

If I never find myself in a position to be used in the Kingdom again.

If I never hold another microphone…

If I never sing another note…

If tomorrow, like Job, I lose everything I have…

God is still God. God is still good. I still desire him above all else.

That Saturday night, I lay in my bed and I prayed “Lord, make yourself real to me. Reveal your heart to me. Help me to see you in all things.” And I went to sleep without another thought about that prayer.

The next morning, as I got ready for church and was pondering these things, I got a text message from a good friend with a song link, urging me to listen.

The song did a contrast between us present day and the children of Israel and then went into the chorus…

🎶You are our daily bread

You are our daily bread

And we will seek your face before we seek your hand

You are our daily bread

You are our daily bread

And we desire you before the promised land🎶

And I was floored.

I told her the things the Lord and I had been discussing and had a Jesus moment in my bathroom.

Fast forward to Sunday School and my friend’s Dad was speaking that morning. He taught on trust and, I can’t make this up, one of the things his daughter and I had said to each other that morning came OUT of HIS mouth.

Confirmation after confirmation.

Fast forward to the evening when it all tied together in our Sunday evening Bible study. The song, the Sunday School lesson, the sermon that day…all orchestrated together.

My children had gone on a youth trip that evening and were set to return at 10pm. They were running a bit late because they’d been involved in a powerful prayer service and I got a call telling me to go on home and not wait there…that this person would bring my kiddos home and I didn’t need to wait so late.

As I drove home, I turned up a street a couple of blocks from my house and clear as day…I had a revelation.

At seven years old, when my second grade teacher was obedient to bring me to church with her. God knew.

He knew 7 year old me needed the community and church I received here. He knew I needed to be poured into and spoken over at that point in my life.

Even more than that, he saw into right now. Knew that that same little girl would face a season of brokenness and need a community who would, once again, love her (and her babies too) and be the hands and feet of Jesus.

He planned it all.

He set it all in motion.

His plans are for good and not for harm…to bring me to an expected end. He isn’t surprised by what’s transpired. He isn’t caught off guard.

He is the ultimate strategizer and I’m so grateful.

♥️