Notes from this week's podcast: What Do God's Plans Look Like?

Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 

Don't we immediately want to jump into those prosperous plans? 

There are plans that lead up to "those" plans so that God can achieve His will for our lives.

Righteousness means to live a balanced life. And God is always righteous. 

You are/have been on God's heart, and He has plans for you. But He wants your heart to be on His plans. 

The first step is to recognize that God's ultimate goal for you is righteousness. He is all about righteousness. He desires for you to reflect Him. 

God wants to meet us where we are. 

He wants us to think righteously, to have a mindset of righteousness at all times. 

God knows what plans to put in place to get to the "plans" we have our focus on and to achieve His purpose of righteousness. 

We can become restful in the state of acquiring this desired result. Then, knowing the comfort of the new righteousness in your life, you can look back at the past situation and thank God -- that you have been clothed with righteousness. 

We don't want to miss encounters with God -- embrace them. 

We've got to run to God to get His wisdom, to get counsel and understanding, to line up with Him. 

Nothing is hidden from God. 

The longer we ignore God's wisdom (and refuse His plans for us) the longer we struggle in vain to produce a life contrary to God's purpose. 

* Before you were born, He planned for your life. Surrender your plans to God. Embrace the favor of God. 

Believe without wavering that God is the all-wise God. His plans will be wrapped in wisdom. 

Test your thoughts of God's wisdom against the Word: Pure (undefiled), peace-loving, gentle (considerate), open to reason (submissive), full of mercy (kind) and good fruit (good will), impartial, sincere (not self-seeking). 

Warning: God's plan for your will not develop or spring forth quickly if there is bitterness, jealousy, selfish ambition, boasting, pride. He will root these out. He's got a plan for you to walk through to get it out of your life so that you can move forward in the plan of righteousness. Be honest and put it away immediately. 

Scripture for further study: Zephaniah 3:5, Genesis 16:13, Job 12:13, Job 12:10, James 3:17