Whatever Your Plan Is

"Every corner of my heart 

Take your place in every part 

Have Your way 

Your ways have never failed me once 

Though it costs me everything 

I'll still follow where You lead

Have Your way 

Your ways have never failed me once."               

Whatever Your Plan Is - Josie Buchanan / Bethel Music

This song had been in my everyday playlist for almost two months now but its lyrics have become more alive especially this rough week. It is very easy to say that we trust the plan of God especially when things are on our favor. But what if it is the opposite? Can we still confidently say the we trust His plans? Can we still be bold enough to take a step forward even when our vision slowly becoming unclear? Can we still maintain our heads up when everything seems falling down?

But one thing I am learning in this season is that, Our God, who loves us so much more than we could ever comprehend, is worth trusting to!

Nothing is constant other than God. 

Seasons change, people change, we change. 

But the faithfulness, goodness and loving-kindness of God will remain forever.

Trials are God's ways to extend His hands towards us. He is using such for us to be more aware that He is there, ready to help and guide. He lets us go through it to mold our character for us to see and discover what seems to be corrected and changed - both in the situation and also in our actions/perspectives. He allows it for us to see that above all, He is in control. 

He was like saying...  "My child, can you trust me in this?"

Profess a YES WITH FAITH even your feelings strongly contradict. 

 

"Anyone who trusts in the Lord will never be disappointed." 

(Isaiah 49:23)

 

Pay Closer Attention

For this reason [that is, because of God’s final revelation in His Son Jesus and because of Jesus’ superiority to the angels] we must pay much closer attention than ever to the things that we have heard, so that we do not [in any way] drift away from truth. Hebrews 2:1 (Amplified Bible)

To have a strong knowledge about the truth, it requires intentional actions from us. In that verse, it says, we must pay much closer attention than ever. Why? Because we know that the things we are not willing to work on with (by giving our time and attention), we will eventually lose it. We are very much privileged to know and understand the truth by the help of the Spirit. But the Lord is reminding us here that it does not end there. We must pay much closer attention than ever. Meaning, above all else, we should take time to deepen our knowledge about the truth. It is a continuous and progressive process. I was caught by the phrase we do not [in any way] drift away When we fail to pay closer attention to the truth about our God, we can be drifted way. Drifted not just in a sense of total backsliding but even in the unnoticed manifestations of spiritual coldness that can be seen on the way we speak, think, act and live. 

The Lord is reminding us with these things not to threaten us but because He wanted us to continue living and walking upon the TRUTH. Be reminded that the TRUTH we received from God gave us a living hope, undeserved freedom, inner peace, and total transformation of our lives. And He knew that once we drift away, we can lose it all.

How can we pay much closer attention?

BY READING AND MEDITATION THE WORD OF GOD.

The Bible is the book of truth and God's promises. It is also our life's manual. 

If we will delight on meditating and willingly obey what is written on it, it will never be easy for us to drift away. :)

---

God loves you. God loves me.

Know that His heart's desire is always for us and not against us. 

Faith not Fantasy

Hezekiah's Prayer | 2 Kings Chapter 19

14 Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: “Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16 Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God. 17 “It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. 18 They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. 19 Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God.”

As I am reading Hezekiah's prayer in this chapter, I can sense God's strong voice teaching me another perspective about faith. There are times (which I am also guilty about), when we exaggeratedly define faith in the situations that we are in. When we make 'faith' an excuse to face the reality of life. But in this chapter, where Hezekiah's rough battle was narrated, we can learn so much about how we can use faith in a realistic view. King Hezekiah reign differently compared to the kings before him. He acknowledged God as God. He always observe and obey God's commands and he never compromised his faith in his leadership. But the time came when the king of Assyria and his messengers threatened him and bragged about their victories against the other kings and kingdoms. They let Hezekiah feel less - in power, capability and influence. That incident leads Hezekiah to turn his heart focus on God through prayer. As he prays, we can see how Hezekiah accepts the reality of negative forces against him as mentioned in verse 17 “It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands.". He did not disregard such facts. In front of God, he utters his wholehearted acceptance of the situation that he was in. But one great lesson that we can learn there is that accepting the fact of what is really going on will take our faith properly activated. Faith is not fantasy. Faith is actually accepting and recognizing the facts about the situation yet focuses on the 'truth' about the power and sovereignty of God. Like what Hezekiah prayed to God on verse 19, "Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God.” More than anything, he still magnify the Kingship of God over the reality of the situation that he was in. That is faith. We can apply it now in our situation regarding the pandemic that we are facing right now. Do not neglect the facts about it. Take action on it. Learn from it. But above all, focus and dwell more on the truth about our God (his power, goodness, and sovereignty), by faith. :)

The Stand

"So I'll stand, with arms high and heart abandoned.In owe of the One who gave it all.And I'll stand, my soul Lord to You surrendered. All I am is Yours." 

(One of my all-time-favorite Christian song: The Stand by Hillsong) 

As we decided to live for the Lord, we must let go of ourselves (own desires, will and wants)and let God be in control of everything. With arms high and heart abandoned, let us surrender ourselves to Him and let him use our lives for His name and glory. Many people refused to do it because of the wrong thinking that God might become an antagonist of their self-planned 'best life story'. 

That was a big NO.  

What I have learned and realized is that, when we surrender our lives to God, we are not actually losing the best out of it. Instead, we are getting ready to embrace the UTMOST level of His favor and blessings. That is why I pray that we will wholeheartedly declare: (personal tone) "ALL I AM IS YOURS". 

Above All Else

ABOVE ALL ELSE, GUARD YOUR HEART. (Proverbs 4:23)

Above all else' → Meaning, NOT an option. Instead, make it a priority. A choice. God knows how fragile our hearts could possibly be. It can be deceived by strong emotions, it can be misled by wrong thoughts and it can be captured by wrong person. That is why God commanded us (not a request) to carefully guard our hearts.

Simply, let it be captivated by God. Only Him. Then the rest follows.

Godly Suffering

"For it is better... to suffer for doing good." (1 Peter 3:17) 

Indeed. Suffering from doing good is a great test from the Lord. Most people wanted to spend their lives in its most comfortable situation -- enjoying the pleasures offered by the devil. But as we chose to do what is right even if the costs were tough, God will grant us inner security and hope knowing that we go through it for His sake. And by that, he will be pleased.

Beauty of Brokenness

As Christians, we are not excused in experiencing trials, tests and challenges of life that leads to emotional and spiritual brokenness. At times, we tend to ask God, "why?", forcing him to make a clear explanation why such things happen. But let  us try to imagine how our lives could possibly be with a smooth sailing flow and ride? It can make us so self-centered and boastful, believing that we can do all things by ourselves. But at the times of brokenness, we will realize our incapabilities, weaknesses and limitations that only God can fill. It is also His way of refocusing our eyes and heart to the one who can really make us whole. Brokenness is not as negative as we often think and perceive. It is sometimes God's tap on our shoulders reminding us that He is all we need.