Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you says the LORD. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and hope. [Living Bible translation]
Ephesians 4:31-32 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen….Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another…. [New International translation]
Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge HIM, and HE will make straight your path. [Living Bible translation]
Summary
The Bible is full of the promises of GOD. It is about the lives of individual people and it is about how a nation of people, the Israelites, rose from nothing to greatness. The Bible is full of stories of people who, in faith, allowed GOD to have HIS WAY. Ordinary people had faith and lived extraordinary lives because they “LET GO and LET GOD.”
In Jeremiah 29:11 the writer says that GOD “knows” the plans he has for “you.” Think about it. It does make sense. After all, GOD is all-knowing (i.e., Omniscient). In other words, GOD “sees” all aspects of time---the past, the present, and the future. Planning is about taking action, engaging in a process, or designing steps so that some future outcome can be achieved. But not only can GOD “see” the future, but GOD also has a unique ability to “design” futures. HOW? Well, GOD, after all, is all-powerful (i.e., Omnipotent). GOD has the ability to “breathe” life into “dead situations.” Just think of the creation of humanity, when GOD “breathed the breath of life” into the first human. See, Genesis 2:7.
We can also rely on GOD’s plans for each of us individually, because GOD, unlike a City Planning division, or any other “human” organization, which has limited resources, limited staff and that may find itself, bogged down in paperwork with hundreds of other competing plans, GOD can plan for “each of us at the same time.” There is no wait time, no waiting line, no borders, no boundaries, no concern for “being overlooked,” because GOD can be with each of us, no matter where we are located in the world, at the same time. GOD is everywhere (i.e., Omnipresent). And GOD LOVES us all (i.e., Omnibenevolent), caring about each and every one of us.
So, GOD is uniquely qualified and capable of being a MASTER DESIGNER and PLANNER.
HE deserves our faith. We, therefore, should, LET GO and LET GOD.
But, so often, we don’t. Ephesians 4 provides some understanding, why we don’t just “LET GO.” According to Ephesians 4:31, we all have a tendency to let unwholesome talk come out of our mouths or take root in our minds. For example:
- When was the last time you mentioned you were “growing old” instead of “growing in the LORD”?
- When was the last time you “worried,” or thought about what you “can’t do” instead of thinking of the thousands of things GOD is capable of doing, or of all the things GOD has already done for you?
- When was the last time you completely turned some “impossible” situation in your life, or some “impossible person” in your life, totally over to GOD, refusing to think about it or even talk about it?
- How many times have you tried to make plans, based on “what you wanted,” “how you felt,” “or based on your financial situation,” without consulting GOD?
- How many times have you “thrown in the towel,” on homework, determined that “you can’t do it,” felt like a failure, decided not to work or play or try because you couldn’t “see” what difference it would make?
In other words, it is our own tendencies to “rely on our own understanding” or to talk ourselves out of “moving in a direction” GOD wants us to go, or the negative thinking that often causes us to lose faith (in ourselves or GOD) and not LET GO and not LET GOD.
We must believe in our minds, our hearts and with the very words that come out of our mouth, GOD IS WHO GOD IS!
BECOMING GOD’s CHAMPIONS
Watching prior Olympics or watching the skills displayed by professional athletes playing football, basketball, baseball, running track, skiing, ice-skating, playing soccer, or engaging in other professional sports, most people think “I could never do that, in a million years!”
And, it is often that kind of “limited” thinking that separates those who become champions and those who don’t. According to many coaches, trainers, sports psychologists, and others who train, study, and work with champions, there is a certain “mindset” associated with champions. Many people have athletic abilities, but what often distinguished the champions from even very gifted athletes is a certain mindset. These are a few things that are mentioned:
- Champions are dreamers. They expect to win. That is, they see themselves winning even before it happens. They are optimistic. They are confident. Some might say they have faith. Or, as one writer put it, their faith is far greater than their fears.
They often think their best days are ahead of them, not behind. - Champions don’t focus on the faults of others or even their own faults or weaknesses. Instead, they focus on what they can do better than others. They work at improving themselves day after day, after day, so they can get stronger and better and wiser at doing what they are doing. Some say they are lifelong learners. They have a passion to excel.
- Champions tend to be coachable, they take responsibility, they “show up,” they focus on their “gifts” they have been given. They often see their training and work as fulfilling a higher purpose, not for just a short-lived goal or gain.
See or read some of the following references: “Begin Your Day the Olympian Way, The Fastrack to Leadership Gold,” by Olympian Marilyn Kind & Emmett Miller, MD; “5 Ways to Think Like An Olympian,” by Jon Gordon. http://www.jongordon.com/positive-tip-think-like-a-champion.html; See also, www.JonGordon.com.
HAVE FAITH AND BE GOD’s CHAMPION
GOD is still a champion maker. GOD is still looking for “just ordinary people,” willing to follow HIM and allow HIM to let them do extraordinary things, to HIS GLORY, even in the midst of COVID 19.
So today, let go and let GOD. LET GO and LET GOD. LET GOD and LET GO! Make this your affirmation this week.
Exercise and have faith. Eat right. Speak right. Think right.
Trust GOD to give you a future filled with hope! [Jeremiah 29:11]
Be GOD’s champion and BE BLESSED!
