Our Micro Plans

Dr. Mike 2023 , , ,

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Last week I highlighted God’s macro plan. Today, we are going to review how our plans work along with God’s goal for us.

One of the major challenges we all face is to determine how our dreams aligned with God’s plan. When one initially surrenders to God, the attitude normally is you are willing to commit to anything. Until you realize afterward what you are sacrificing.

Are you willing to become a missionary in a foreign hostile nation? Are you willing to deny yourself marriage, family, and physical comforts? What about your desires for financial success? These and many other issues confronted me. The question before me was how does one’s personal desires and life goals align with God’s plan?

Yes, I wanted to serve God. But I also desired to experience all life’s good things. Can a person do both?

I searched the Scriptures. I read theological works beyond my understanding at the time. Plus I cried and pondered in prayer. The answer over time became clearer. Yes, when one aligns mind, body, and soul to serve the living God, one does so wherever one is, and whatever one does. (As long as our work is not immoral.)

First one must understand God’s plan is to morph you and me after the image of Jesus Christ. As we worship HIM through our thoughts and actions, we begin to reflect HIM in our daily walk before others.

Then after you realize which of your God given natural talents and abilities are your strongest, you sharpen them. You acquire further knowledge and develop matching skills which when employed serve others.

As your heart becomes more like Jesus, HE will also lead you toward a community of people who you can best serve.

You do not have to enter full time vocational ministry to serve God, unless called. HE has given us the honor and privilege to serve Him in whatever profession, service, career, or opportunity we enter. His only caveat is that what you do reflects His character.

Remember: God is a builder, operator, teacher, strategist, and researcher. He is into business, health, education, and government. He is the author of science, mathematics, and communications. He exhibits fatherhood, motherhood, and family-hood. The list is endless.

The time will come when you realize He is preparing you for eternity. That He walks with you through your daily routines. You then become more assured in your relationship with Him. You appreciate His Presence. As HE shares His life with you, you enjoy sharing your life with Him. He created you and knows what your character needs most to thrive for eternity. And no matter what your situation or circumstance surround you, He is constantly morphing you into the image of Jesus Christ. If you allow Him.

In my early twenties, some friends selected the pastoral route. I chose business. Throughout my career, He blessed me with His presence. He surrounded me with mentors. He challenged me with opportunities to grow. And yes, He disciplined me many times when stupidity struck. Yet His grace always was enough. I chose business because at the time money was attractive to me. God didn’t refrain me. Instead, he took the daily roles, events, and challenges which laid before me and changed my heart to more reflect Him. Business became my ministry to love, serve, and govern others God’s way.

When you realize your role for eternity will involve governing and serving others, then you find more meaning in your daily routine. You find being trained to lead and serve is part of God’s plan for you. You realize He wants you to learn how to generously love and prudently judge others in your everyday life.

God is even involved in your personal roles. You find marriage trains you to submit and serve each other like God Himself. You find parenting trains you to govern a household. You find family is the best social structure to teach and train others in preparation for greater responsibility.

Everything you do under the tutelage of God Almighty prepares you for more and more responsibility. As you gain more expertise, your platform grows. As your heart/mind/soul is molded into the image of Jesus, you begin to reflect Him in your life. Your words, actions, and attitude bring greater glory to your Creator and heavenly Father.

In most cases, God is not going to tell you what to do with your life. He wants you to exercise your God-given gifts and bring glory to Him. He is not a helicopter parent. He wants you to develop character that reflects Him.

Yes, life is a learning process. We try. We fail. We try again. We fail. And we keep trying until one day we succeed. Then we take the next challenge and repeat. Whether you choose the upper road, mid-road, or lower road, God is always with you. By choosing what you desire, you will be more motivated to follow through. He will continue to chisel away and allow His new creation to come alive in you no matter which way you choose.

Many Christians struggle for answers in decision making while seeking God’s Will. When the real issue is the fear within them. They want someone to tell them which way to go so they don’t fail. But failure is what teaches you how to succeed. God knows what we lack in character. He knows what your strengths are. And He knows what will bring out the best in you.

So, pursue your goals. Dream dreams. Create a bucket list. Constantly communicate with Him through the entire journey. He is with you and rooting for you. You may have your sight set on the outcome. But His aim is to prune your character in the process. When both are done, be grateful. If the outcome of your goal fails, that is OK. What did you learn? Be grateful. If you succeed, be thankful for your accomplishment.  And always be appreciative for God’s involvement in your life.

When you abide in Christ, everything you do Monday through Friday and weekends are to glorify your heavenly Father. Yes, you can do godly work within a Christian ministry. But you can also minister outside the four walls of a faith community through your vocation. They both will have their challenges and rewards. It’s your choice.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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God’s Macro Plan

Dr. Mike 2023 , ,

…He chose us in him before the foundation of the world…HE predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will…as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. Eph. 1:4,5,10

God wants a family.

His entire plan in this age from beginning to end is to birth and prepare a people for eternity (Romans 8:15, 23). Jesus’ entire mission on earth was a victorious battle to defeat HIS adversary and lay the foundation for the Church. The Church’s responsibility is now to teach, nourish, and prepare a people for the end game. The end game being the final merger of heaven and earth (Rev. 21:1-4). This is after Jesus returns to claim HIS throne for all to see (Rev.5:11,13).

As HIS children, we will govern and serve within HIS eternal kingdom (Rev.5:10).

Yes, God wants to share HIS life with you and me for all eternity. HE wants His children to be involved in the family business: the Kingdom of God. We have the opportunity to now practice His ways within our everyday world.

As we allow HIS Spirit to lead us, we are colonizing our home, business, and neighborhoods after His governmental principles.  We are being tested (Rev.2:10) and disciplined as His children (Heb.12:7-11). We are learning HIS ways. As a church body, we reach out to others. We teach Christ’s ways for others to learn and grow in relationship with Him (Matt. 18:18-20).

From Adam and Eve, to you and me, humanity’s story is God working out HIS macro plan. The Bible is a prophetical and historical account of the people and events HE orchestrated to fulfill HIS desire for a family. After a couple of disappointments with the human response, HE started with Abraham. From their the family tree began to grow into a tribe. The tribe eventually became a Jewish nation. Then Jesus fulfilled the prophecy given to Adam & Eve. HE restored man’s direct relationship with God and removed the religious rituals which foretold His purpose. The result was the merger of Gentiles and Jews into membership of one body, the church (Eph. 3:6).

The church today is the hands and feet of Jesus. As we follow Jesus, you and I are now responsible to serve one another participating with HIM in HIS work preparing a people for eternity.

Yes, God’s plan from the beginning of time is to prepare for a family. Today we are in the womb of the church. One day, there will be a universal birth as HIS children are given a new body and a new home with a new eternal start (1 Corinthians 15:42-49).

This is why when you live out your life under God’s macro plan, your micro plans take on new meaning and purpose. You realize Father-Son-Spirit have bigger plans for you and I than we can ever imagine.  

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

Books By Dr. Mike:

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Mature in Christ

Dr. Mike 2023 , ,

“Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” Colossians 1:28

How do you define maturity?

When my daughter was around six years old, she was misbehaving. I don’t recall the exact behavior. But do remember looking at her and in a serious tone of voice asking her why she doesn’t behave her age. Then I broke out laughing. She was acting like a six-year old. My expectations were out of kilter.

Looking back, she was always mature for her age. For maturity isn’t about one’s age, but how one behaves and acts in their season of life.

If you live long enough, you will witness sixty-year-olds behave like six-year-olds. You will also see six-year-olds at times behave like sixty-year-olds. Maturity is the aging process of learning how to apply wisdom in the situation you are in. As we grow and accept responsibility, we discover our strengths and purpose. We also find meaning in the service of others. We mature.

The human growth cycle involves accepting responsibility. Healthy young adults seek responsibility or have responsibility thrust upon them. The outcome is growth of character. Character includes learning the art of patience, handling conflict, and helping others to flourish. Like Jesus (Lk. 2:40,52), as more responsibility is accepted for serving others, one grows in wisdom, judgement, and stature.

For example, as an eleven-year-old, I delivered newspapers door-to-door. I learned responsibility. My job description included collecting payment, managing money, and paying suppliers. Later as a sixteen-year-old, I was given the responsibility to manage a large food concession. There I learned to supervise others, deal with customers, and manage food operations. Each season brought new responsibilities. Others depended on me. I grew from the experience.

As children of the living God, HE is likewise giving us responsibility now to prepare us for eternity. HE has plans for you and I when we crossover into the new world. Included in the training is learning how to act and behave as a representative of HIS family and kingdom. We are currently babes in Christ. Yet we yearn to know more. To experience more. Though we are immature in God’s eyes, HE still allows us to play house until we are ready for the real thing.

We are to set aside our childish ways (1 Cor.13:11). To grasp the responsibility of being a Christ-follower. Then we will begin to experience the fruit of maturity in Christ.

As members of HIS body the Church, we all have been given gifts and abilities to serve one another. As we exercise these gifts in service for others, we mature in Christ. As we allow God’s Spirit to express Himself through us, we mature in Christ. As we help others to capture the vision of HIS Kingdom, we mature in Christ.

As we accept our responsibility as a member of HIS Church and a citizen of HIS Kingdom, doors will open for us to mature in Christ. As we mature in Christ, we discover our purpose. We find meaning through our work and service for others. And like all God’s ways, when one follows Christ, everyone else around us also benefits in the long-term.  

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

Books By Dr. Mike:

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved