By Pat Lubomski – Ypsilanti, Michigan
God tells us in Jeremiah that He has thoughts and plans specifically for His people.
“For I know the thoughts [plans] that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity.” Jeremiah 29:11-14 KJV
The New International Version has this rendering of verse 11: “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
So, do your plans and thoughts line up with God’s plans and thoughts for you?
Get your thinking in line with God’s, and the Lord can work with you confirming the Word with signs following!
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways [plans] My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void, [the Lord working with us as we go], But it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:8-11 NKJV
God’s Plans are Best
Jehosaphat, a king of Judah, has a long record in Chronicles of some really bad choices and some really good ones. After one of his better choices of taking down groves to idols and setting Biblical judges, however, the enemy of our Lord was not happy!
So, the Moabites and the Ammonites, both with strong armies, came against Jehosaphat to battle. But Jehosaphat knows where his strength comes from…so, he goes in prayer to the Lord.
“And Jehosaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah, they came to seek the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 20:3-4 NKJV
The people of Jerusalem are now set to be attacked and possibly all killed… but, God had other plans against the enemies of his people.
“And they [the people of Judah] rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, [who spoke for the Lord God]so shall ye prosper.
And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, “Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever.”” 2 Chronicles 20:20-21 KJV
When the people began to praise the Lord, something MIRACULOUS happened! God showed what His plan was for deliverance.
“And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.” 2 Chronicles 20:22-23 KJV 
The Judeans didn’t even need to fight! They just watched the physical enemy destroy themselves.
“And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.” 2 Chronicles 20:24 KJV
So the Ammonites, Moabites and the people of Seir, the enemies of God’s people, instead of attacking Judah… attacked each other and wiped each other out. This whole chapter is fantastic!
This was a time where the thoughts of the people lined up with God’s thoughts for them and signs followed.
The prophets were on the ball, the people from every city in Judah sought the Lord and were wanting to know the way God wanted them to go. As they went, God fought the battle for them.
“…This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20:15 NIV
One Step at a Time
God has plans for you, too. But, if we do not move, God can provide no direction, because direction comes from movement.
So, what do you want in your life? Make a move towards it!
Just follow through on what you know God has in His plans for you. Just one step at a time, one word at a time, one day at a time.
If you stumble or fall, remember perfection is of the Lord… we’re just going along for the ride.
So, get up and keep moving! All effort is giving, all giving will make receiving in your life and… guaranteed success!
Pat Lubomski has been married to Laurie for more than 40 years. They have hosted home Bible fellowships for 40 years, and they currently pastor a neighborhood Baptist church, as well as fellowships in other cities and the Toledo area.
Watch Pat teach at Christian Family Fellowship in “We Like People!”