Does God Have a Purpose For Me?

Sometimes we feel like we are not getting anywhere in our lives, and we wonder if God has given up on us.

"Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are the work of your hands." Isaiah 64:8, NIV. 

LORD AND FATHER
The two names of God are comforting together. He is the Lord, the one who rules the universe and controls all circumstances. He is the mighty creator; with a word, he put galaxies in the correct place. He is awesome in authority and power.

God is a nurturing and caring Father, who protects and provides for his children. He corrects and trains his children; He considers our ways and best decides how to bring us to full spiritual adulthood. He is the father whose hand we may hold.

CLAY
This is a reminder that God formed man from the dust, (see Genesis 2:7). We are formed out of the common and ordinary. Dust is weak and the soil is a poor construction material.

We are the clay in God's hands. That which is common and little valued becomes a treasure when God puts his hand to it. He can form us and remake us to an object of beauty or service.

POTTER
The potter is a purposeful craftsman. He prepares the clay and equipment. He uses skill to accomplish his designs. The clay cannot resist the pressure of his hands. The clay will not look like anything when it is mined from the soil but when it yields to the potter it becomes beautiful. The potter knows the results and each step brings the clay toward completion.

WORK
God has a work plan for each of us. He is making us into a new image- the image of Christ, (see Galatians 4:19).  We might feel like we are spinning on a potter's wheel, covered with mud, being pushed and pulled this way and that but God is working. He has all power to complete his work, and he is the caring Father- he will not fail.

God made heaven and Earth by his command but when he works in our lives he touches us with his hands. So tender and gentle are His designs he will only accomplish it by his touch.

ACKNOWLEDGE
The verse above is a statement that acknowledges the truth. We must make it our truth and become soft clay in the Father's hand.

If you want to learn more about having a relationship with the father follow this link: Click Here.

(c)Adron Dozat

Why Does God Take So Long?

Why does God take so long? We have situations and needs and we are desperate for solutions. We pray and look to God but in the back of our mind is the question, "What's taking so long?"

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption." Psalm 130:5-7, NIV.

IMPATIENT
We want results immediately; like the TV shows we want all the problems are solved in half an hour. We are impatient, but to wait on the Lord is a major principle of faith, the Bible is full of it and we hurry over it.

FAITH
The Psalmist mastered this discipline; he says, "I wait... my soul waits... I put my hope... my soul waits... more than watchmen wait for morning... hope in the lord..." If you do not have Jesus this kind of waiting is impossible, because it is an act of faith. "With the Lord is unfailing Love and with him is full redemption." The author could wait in faith since he had the facts of God. He knew there was a loving and redeeming purpose in the wait.

Remember the facts about God, like the verse says, "in his word I put my hope." My life is not my own, it is his and he has a purpose in my situation. We may not understand it but he does. He has a timetable, it is not ours; we want him to hurry up but it is not for us to dictate to God.

IT IS NOT ABOUT US
Verse 7 reminds us, to put our hope in the Lord. We want to take short cuts, and hurry things along; instead we must wait for God to do what needs to be done. We must not hope in ourselves and our ways of solving situations but just focus on the Lord and wait to see Him in it. This does not mean sit back and do nothing, we must do what is right but let God be sovereign in the results.

COMFORT
It is comforting that, "with the Lord is unfailing love, and with him is full redemption." The difficulties we face are designed by God with His love right in the middle. We will be better for it. We want Him to hurry- but we must resolve to patiently wait on the Lord.

To learn more about finding God follow this link: click here.

(c)Adron Dozat

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How To Make Our Dreams Come True.

We all have dreams and desires. It would be wonderful if there was a way to ensure our dreams come true.

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19: 21. NIV*

This Bible verse really describes so us so well, for "many are the plans in a man's heart," we have a long list of "if onlys."

We say...
     * "If only I had money, I would do this thing."
     * Or "If only I had resources to do this or that it could help so many people."
     * Or "If only my business idea would work out so I could do this or that."

And we have lots of goals; we say things like...
     * This year I want to do this or that.
     * I will publish my novel.
     * I will get healthy.
     * I want to start an art gallery.
     * I hope to open a bread and breakfast inn.
     * I want to take some college courses.

BUT
Halfway through the verse, we have to put on the breaks because there is that all-powerful word, "But." It says, "Stop, put everything on hold, and look again; here is the real heart of the issue about your plans."

GOD
The Lord has a purpose for everything in our lives; it is a given, after all, that to say 'He is the Lord' is to say 'He is Sovereign, the ruler, and ultimately in charge.' We need many daily reminders of the powerful and freeing truth that He is the Lord. The Lord God is involved in our lives in a loving, compassionate, and wise way. He has a divine and holy purpose for my day, week, and life. I need to make sure my plans are in harmony with his purpose; otherwise, I am wasting my life and missing his blessings for me.

It is comforting that "the Lord's purpose prevails," for his plans for me are going to be better than anything I can dream up anyway.

We must make sure our plans are:
     * In keeping with His will.
     * Prayerfully developed.
     * Free from sinful motivations.
     * Honoring Him.
     * Going to bring us closer to God.

Our plans may go in all kinds of directions, but God's purpose is spoken in singular terms in this verse. He has a purpose for each of us and all humanity; it is that we may know him and the one (Jesus) who He sent. John 17:3

*To read this verse in other translations, follow this link: Online Parallel Bible.

 To learn more about fulfilling God's plan for your life, then follow this link: Click Here.

(c) Adron Dozat 12/27/12

What Does It Mean To Be God's People?

What does it mean that we are God's people? We know it is something good but just what is it?

"Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture." Psalm 100:3, NIV*.

This Bible verse starts with the declaration that The Lord is God; as a reminder that everything begins with him, not us. Our identity is not in what we own or have achieved or who we are but our true identity is in who our God is.

WE HAVE A CREATOR

God created us on purpose. What we are, what we look like, our talents, and gifts were given by God. We might say, "I wish I wasn't like this or that," but instead, we should be thankful.  If we have a weakness or a flaw, we know God has a purpose for it.  We are so often caught up in the outside looks, and all the external: but God is working on the internal.

WE BELONG

We are his. Because of this verse, you can say, "I know who and what I am. I do not need to go on some quest to find myself." Our lives become an expression of being found in Jesus.  We belong- this is better than a club, or family, society, gang, or any group.

WE HAVE PEOPLE
God did not make us to be alone.  We belong to a society, to a people who are his, we not only belong but we each have a purpose in God's plan to be a blessing to his people. God made us each with gifts to share with His people wherever they are. We each need to be a blessing to his people; we diminish ourselves and others when we draw away from the community of faith.

WE ARE CARED FOR

"We are the sheep of his pasture." Sheep are very dependent. Sheep lack fangs and claws, they are not built for speed, and "Baaa" is no "Roar!" Sheep live and thrive because the shepherd takes care of them; he protects, nurtures, and provides for them. Our God is the Good Shepherd- He cares for us and provides.

We each have a place; we are in his pasture. It is like we are doubly loved and cared for. Who can imagine what a wonderful pasture the Lord has for his sheep? We not only have a Creator, and an identity and a purpose we also have a place-His pasture. We have a place in the heart of God. You can say, "I am in his hands."

TO KNOW THE LORD
Knowing someone is to be involved in a relationship and no relationship ever plateaus, all relationships must grow or wither. To know the Lord means you must continue to grow in knowledge.

(c)Adron Dozat 12/23/12

What Does The Bible Say About Success? Proverbs 16:2

How do we become successful, and what is the key?

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." Proverbs 16:3, NIV.

At first, that looks like a clear, and simple verse.  It looks like a formula for easy success, but if you look deeper you find there's more to it because to commit something to the Lord is hard.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO COMMIT
Commit is not a word you hear every day.  You might hear someone had committed a crime, meaning it happened. You might say, I made a commitment, meaning a promise you will surely keep.  You may say I will commit something to memory, meaning I will put it to memory for good. You might say, I am committed to a cause, meaning you are given over to it.

To commit something to the Lord is all of this and it will also be...

• To honor the Lord.
• That the end will please Him.
• That He will be in charge.
• That I will be submissive to His instructions.
• That the cause of the Lord will be advanced.
• That people will look and see God, not me.
• And that He might (and probably will) change the plans.

A WAY OF LIFE
This is a way of life verse; it says, "whatever you do;" so it could be anything: a job, career, school, housework, or marriage. This verse is so totally open-ended it is like saying commit to the Lord anything you do; or maybe we should say, commit to the Lord everything we do. That might change everything for us!

OUR PROBLEM
We find we are very committed to ourselves. We need to begin with prayer and confession. We need to search our motivations because we know we cannot commit sinful plans to the Lord. We remember, he must increase and I must decrease.

WHAT HAPPENS
When we commit our plans to the Lord something will happen, we get more of the Lord.  We find him there and discover more about him, for his plan is that we know him.

GOD WILL SUCCEED
God's idea of success may not be what we had in mind. We may want a bigger paycheck, he may want us to have more trust; we may want loving relationships, he may want us to be forgiving; we may want a big title, he may want us to wash the disciple's feet. If we commit our plans to the Lord we are committed to his definition of success. When we are committed to allowing God to work our success as he sees fit we will find greater success than we originally envisioned.

To compare this verse in other translations visit this link: Proverbs 16:3.

If you want to find out more about how to have God in your life follow this link: Click Here.

© Adron 11/24/12

How to Have Successful Plans. Proverbs 16:9

We all have plans, desires, dreams, and goals. We put together our plans with the greatest care, but is there any guarantee they will succeed?

"In his heart a man plans his course but the Lord determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9, NIV.

COURSE
Our course is the directions we are going. Sometimes our course is vague and sometimes clear cut. A sailor may use the stars or a compass to set his course, but we are often our own course mapping the agenda of our own lives to fulfill some “American Dream.” We use the best tools and give great thought to the destination of our lives until we feel confident of the results.

BUT
There is a “But” in all of our plans. This verse of scripture says we are looking down to the road leading to the distant horizon, but we should be looking up to the Lord of Heaven. The Lord as ruler of the universe commands all things and we are subject to His authority. We may leave Him out of our plans but He will be in them if we want him or not.

GOD
God is good and compassionate and in His love He desires the best for us, so He directs our steps. We must not forget to include God in our plans. To leave God out of our plans is to invite Him in unwittingly, even changing our course against our will, for our good. If we put God in our plans we may still find He changes our plans but knowing He is good should give reassure us that those changes will be for our best.

DETERMINE
That God determines our steps should be a comfort to us.

To determine something is to see through and test it, and to weigh it with understanding so that a conclusion gives action. God is doing this in all our steps. We may embark on a project and perceive it as failing but if God is in control and we have opened ourselves up to His control the failure we see may be His success.

The smart thing is to welcome God into every step from the first one on.


To learn more about having God in your life CLICK HERE.

(c)Adron Dozat

What Is The Secret Path to Success? Proverbs 16:3

Can a book, class, or seminar teach you success? Yes, it was written by the wisest man ever lived, and Solomon put it in one sentence.

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed." Proverbs 16:3. NIV.

To our modern ear, this sounds archaic and naive, like folklore or superstition, but upon reflection, the depth of these words becomes clear and the truth of it obvious.

WORTHY
If you commit some task to the Lord, you must do it in a way that is worthy of Him. You can’t just slam something together haphazardly and say it honors God; you need to behave honorably and do your best to the highest standards. You approach it as if The Almighty is watching over your shoulder- because he is.

PARTNERSHIP
To commit something to the Lord is to bring Him into it. He is the God of victory and is jealous of his name; He does not like things to be done in his name to fail. You are inviting His blessing, but more importantly, His partnership.

PLANS
Another side of commitment is giving up your say in the plans. We must be able to give up our plans to our Divine Father's will and control. If we give our plans to God, then it is in His hands to grant success or failure. He may change the plans and probably will!

WHATEVER
You should commit life's important events and projects to the Almighty, but we can commit “Whatever” to the Lord. There is no task too small or insignificant to be worthy of God. Few of us can be architects of grand schemes; not all of us can build a hospital or establish a fund to care for orphans in the Lord’s name.

We can commit to the Lord.

• Doing the dishes, 
• mowing the lawn, 
• writing a paper, 
• cleaning your room, 
• washing the scum off the shower
• Your job, 
• your relationships, 
• your home, 
• car, 
• bank account, 
• clothing, 
• and whatever is important.

A PROMISE
It is a promise of scripture that your plans will succeed. It may be that He will rewrite the proposal and add a few lines to the blueprint or some other way to bring about success. His idea of success may not be like yours, but it will be better.

THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT
If you are going to commit something to the Lord, it must be done as an act of worship and service to give God glory and honor among men.

So whatever your plans are, you must commit them to the Lord. He wants us to, and He will honor it.

(c) Adron 6/26/10

Advice To The Rebel. Proverbs 21:30

Often we feel frustrated and that the universe is against us, but maybe we are the ones who are against the heart of the universe.

“There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.” Proverbs 21:30, NIV.

NO, NO, NO
The three "no" statements cover everything. First, "no wisdom," that is the power of applied knowledge. All of your intelligence, acumen, or understanding cannot succeed against the Lord.

Then it says, "no insight," insight is that exceptional knowledge that can deduce the inner working it is to understand what is hidden.  All the efforts of superior thinking can’t win against the Lord.

Lastly, it says "no plan," that is the thoughtfully crafted detailed agenda.  You cannot make any map, or blueprint that will succeed against the Lord.

No matter if you take them by themselves or combine them together with wisdom, insight, and plans if you oppose God you will fail.

HA! HA! HA!
Even the casual thinker sees how ludicrous it is to oppose God who is all-seeing, all-powerful, and knows all future events; you can’t outsmart The Almighty.  There is no way to oppose an all-powerful God and succeed.

REBELLION
A person would laugh at the idea of going against God, but many of us, even devoted churchgoers, are doing just that!  We oppose God in subtle ways of rebellion, such as...
     * We may harbor a sinful pet fantasy in our secret thoughts
     * We nurture an unforgiving attitude toward someone.
     * We nurture a heartfelt bitterness.
     * We fail to do the good when we have an opportunity.
     * We may say, “I'll do this service for God, but I’ll do it MY way, and since it is for God it will be OK.”
     * We say, “I can disobey this one rule because I am a special person to God.”

Such attitudes are ultimately against God and just will not succeed.

FOOLISH
To oppose God in even the smallest issue is to diminish the life He has given you and to reject the blessings He has for you; it is a futile and frustrating endeavor.  In the end you will have loneliness, spiritual poverty, and an empty heart.  At best you will serve as an object lesson that the powerless created man cannot succeed against the All-Powerful Creator of the Universe.

Let us seek the Lord and find His will; let us not oppose Him but submit to His loving guidance.

(c) Adron

What Kind of Plan Does God Have For MY Life? Jeremiah 29:11

We feel that we are drifting like a boat without a paddle and there is no control or direction. Could this be what God wants?

“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.” Jeremiah 29: 11, NIV.

PLANS
It is a comfort to know that your All-Wise Father has a plan for you. God is love so His plan must be a loving plan. You may not know much about the plans God has for you but, it is not a mystery to Him. You can trust His design for your life, you can trust His love.

PROSPER
God "plans to prosper." The word, "Prosper" is more than fat bank accounts and wealth. Prosper may or may not include riches but it can mean to flourish, thrive or to do well. You can flourish without wealth and thrive in poverty. We are all different and God’s plan for each of us must be unique to each individual. His plan may include poverty and still, we may “prosper” in friendships, or intellectual gifts, artistic talents, or some other way.

NOT TO HARM
God does not plan to harm us. Obviously, harm comes our way because we live in a sinful world, but according to this verse, it is not God’s plan. This is an age and world where other powers govern for a time. We should remember the Lord's Prayer, which says, “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” God does not desire for us to come into harm but sometimes we bring it ourselves by rejecting God’s better purpose.

HOPE
God has plans for your heart too, plans to give hope. You must have faith in God, No matter what pain or disappointment comes, His plans for your tomorrow is good. You can be sure that the purpose of God is going to be the best for you. You can keep on going because you know there is a time when God’s purpose is complete.

FUTURE
God has a plan for your eternal salvation. Jesus came as part of that plan. Christ's death on the cross paid for your sins and his resurrection demonstrates God's acceptance of that sacrifice for us all. God wants us to come to Jesus and be saved so we may participate in His plan to have a hope and a future with Him in heaven.

To learn more about how to find your place in God's plan for eternal life see my other blog.

(c)Adron Dozat 10/22/09