Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

God has a plan for each and every one of us. I cannot imagine how much planning must have been done.

Last summer I planned a vacation to Maine. We drive. So I map out the trip and schedule hotel rooms and places I like to eat on the way. 3 days up, 3 days back, and 4 days in York, Maine. The mileage and gas is estimated. Food is a wildcard but I try to budget enough so we will not starve. Like that would happen. Plus count on emergencies, because we cannot control every aspect of a trip, so I budget accordingly.

Now that is just for a few days, not a lifetime. God is planning a future for us. I am not sure just how long that will be. I have to trust that God has planned out our lives better than we do.

Matthew 10 (in part)

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go ….. You received without paying; give without pay. 9 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart.

Wow, thank God that He has never asked me to do that. I am a prepper. I plan out everything as best I can, or I don’t go. He can ask something of me that is out of my character. He has, but not on a large scale that needed major planning.

We may find ourselves challenged to get out of our comfort zone. Try to remind ourselves that God has the plan and that we are fitted to the task. Our discomfort is not a factor. At least it shouldn’t be. It is an opportunity to see God’s plan work out in real time with real people.

The last part in Jeremiah 29:11 is to give us hope. Nothing gives a believer hope more than seeing the hand of God at work. Every promise kept leads us ever closer towards that next promise we have not yet acquired.

Romans 16:26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—

Disclosure is a plan that has come into fruition. 

On the Road to Emmaus

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 

Here is what astounds me!

27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

We have the Word and can do all the research ourselves or read what others have discovered but these two men got to hear it directly from our Lord.

What a thrill it must have been to have the Lord explain the scriptures Himself.

We only have the Holy Spirit to do that for us.

Hey, wait, He is God. What was I thinking?

Maybe if we spent more time listening than thinking we would be better off.