First Step?

Does God really have a plan for my life?

and, Must I Take the First Step?

Robbie L. Rogers

God has a plan; but you must take the first step!

He has a plan from beginning to end!

But, Does it include us?

You bet it does!

He has searched us and found us to His liking!

PSALM 139: 1-18 & 23,24. "O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought when far away. You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You both precede and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to know! I can never escape from your spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to you. You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! They are innumerable! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!" "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life."

You are God's accepted child! He has known you from the time you were formed in your mothers womb! Just as he has known the foundations of the creation, He has known you!

Jeremiah 1:5-10, "I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world. O Sovereign Lord," I said, "I can’t speak for you! I’m too young! "Don’t say that," the Lord replied, "for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and take care of you. I, the Lord, have spoken!" Then the Lord touched my mouth and said, "See, I have put my words in your mouth! Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. You are to uproot some and tear them down, to destroy and overthrow them. You are to build others up and plant them."

Can you get that through your head? Do you know this? Can you finally fully grasp it? He has been telling you this for years.

"Well what is this guidance thing then," you say?

Why do we weep and mourn over it? Doesn't God accept us -- through Christ? Hasn't he given us His promises; and He will not be mocked!

Of course He has and if this is so then will He then fail to guide us?

Of course not!

Does he not promise to care?

"Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you? You have so little faith! And don’t worry about food—what to eat and drink. Don’t worry whether God will provide it for you. These things dominate the thoughts of most people, but your Father already knows your needs. He will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. "So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom." Luke 12:27-32

Look around you. If he cares for the small things how much more will He care about you? And, your needs!

But we say, God I need for you to lead me, to show me each step for I am afraid!

Job 38:2-7; 12; "Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Brace yourself, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Do you know how its dimensions were determined and who did the surveying? What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?"

If God knows all things, then isn't it true we only need to have faith in Him to follow?

When God sent Jesus to the disciples do you think Jesus had to give a series of hard teachings before they were willing to follow Him?

No of course not, they were given by God a level of faith with which to respond to Him with. The same level we receive through His creation.

We want God to respond to our every whim don't we?

We act as though we expect God's guidance to direct us so we will know and not have to have faith in what we do, only blindly follow God!

Is that really what we want?

Of course not!

Can we say to the eagle to fly are to fall?

No!

What gives the eagle the flight?

If you can see it, it is faith! He sees in his parents what God has intended of him... to fly! But, he is afraid! Aren't we too afraid to fly as God intended!

Did He promise we would always know which way to go?

Psalm 32:8-9. The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control."

Read and inwardly digest God's word. And fellowship with Him through earnest prayer, asking in the right motives -- honestly seek God's kingdom first. This is your most important thing in life. All things lie at the mercy of this. For without this action you place a wedge between yourself and God.

Jeremiah 17:5-8. This is what the Lord says: "Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, on the salty flats where no one lives. But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit."

Do you hear what He is saying once again -- Seek ye first the kingdom of God. That is the water it is speaking of. If we establish the practice of placing our hearts in God's hand before we place our feet on the floor and praise for accepting us as we are until we can wake up enough to seek Him through earnest prayer we will be well grounded near the stream of life. The living waters of God, of truth and life!

It is God's responsibility to show us the way to go once we set our sails according to faith in Him -- in the right way. With the right motives.

John 14:12-17. "The truth is, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, because the work of the Son brings glory to the Father. Yes, ask anything in my name, and I will do it! If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you."

If you desire to know more about this Jesus Christ who loves you, and you want to ask Him into your heart, receiving His Saving Grace please click on this Salvation Prayer