Trust the plan - 1. God disciplines those He loves!

I know that we are traveling right now, and there are pictures of the beautiful places we are getting to go, but can I tell you that there is a knot in my stomach at what I see happening. I know it is here. House prices. Rent prices. Property taxes. Car prices. Gas prices. All of this along with fires, tornadoes, draught, pandemic, etc. Any one of these could take us under, but they are all happening at once. This is by design.
From the beginning of time God had a plan for His people, a plan to prosper and not to harm, a plan to give hope and a future. This is what the LORD says: "You will be in Babylon for seventy years. (Babylon is a spirit - I am and there is no other.) But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find Me. I will be found by you," says the LORD. "I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land." (Jeremiah 29:10-14)

Our whole life we have been petitioning God for all the things we wanted. I want what I want, and I want it now. Selfish ambitions, bitter envies, greed and pride guided our every move. God let us go our selfish, pride-filled ways, and He didn't stop us. But now He is about to do things that will turn our wayward hearts back toward Him once again. In the coming days we are going to understand what the LORD is after. He is after our heart, our whole heart, and He will do whatever it takes to get it.

So that's what I want to say to you right now. Trust God's plan. He says that all things will work together for good to them who love God and are called according to His purpose because He is conforming us into the image of His dear Son. Think about that. Everything that is about to happen will do a work inside of us to make us look more like Jesus - if we let it. He goes on to say, "My son, do not make light of the LORD's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the LORD disciplines the one He loves, and He chastens everyone He accepts as His son. Endure hardship as discipline, God is treating you as His children." (Hebrews 12:5-7)

All of our life we have gotten it wrong. We wanted God to change the circumstances to fit our needs and desires. What God wants is for the circumstances to change us to fit His desires. His desire is for us to be conformed into His image, to be holy, completely set apart to Him. So we are about to be disciplined. The definition of discipline is to train people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience. God disciplines those He loves. This will start at the house of God. But remember, "As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as His own children." (Hebrews 12:7). "No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening - it's painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong." (Hebrews 12:11-13)

So what do we do? "Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the LORD. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. You know that afterward, when he wanted his father's blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears." (Hebrews 12:14-17

You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. They staggered back under God's command: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death. Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, "I am terrified and trembling."

"No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God's firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God Himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. You have come to Jesus, the One who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of FORGIVENESS instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel." (Hebrews 12:18-24)

So trust the plan. Don't worry about anything. If worry is in your heart, get it out. Face Jesus with your heart wide open and say, "I am guilty of allowing worry into my heart, LORD. Please forgive me." That spirit will leave. Then tell God what you need and thank Him for what He has done, and the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

Fix your eyes on Jesus, guard your heart, and give thanks. God is always up to something good. "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you."
Be blessed, my friends. Look up, for your redemption is drawing near.
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Terri