Time to Get Started

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:8-14

Key Verse: Jeremiah 29:11

Isn’t it so interesting that every time we are about to take a risk and follow our dreams an obstacle comes out of nowhere? Our hearts and minds are fixed on that goal and then…BAM! God wants you to know that everything is going to be okay. Stop planning so much and trust Him to make everything fall into place. If He has given you vision, trust that it will come to fruition. 

God knows that there will be people on Earth trying to speak over your life and telling you what you should do (v.9). The things they say will all sound really nice and achievable. They might even tell you that they heard it from God. In many cases, God has not sent these people. God will often send us a vision and then send a person to confirm what He has said. We have to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in the right direction. We often consider the spirit of discernment a “gut feeling,” but it’s actually God saying, “Nah fam that’s not for you.” Listen to it! God will place you where you need to be. Now is time for you to start trusting that He will come through on His word. 

Jeremiah 29:11 is quoted so often, but we need to really unpack what it says. The verse opens with “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord.” The verse does not say declares your mom, dad, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, pastor, teacher, or even next-door neighbor. The verse says, “declares the Lord.” God wants you to know that it is completely logical that other people will not understand the plans that He has for your life because those plans are not for them. The plans are for you. The verse then continues by giving us the reassurance that the plans that God has for us won’t harm us. Let me help paint the picture. Selling drugs to make ends meet is not a part of God’s plan for your life. Remaining in the abusive relationship with your partner who claims to love you is not a part of God’s plan for your life. Burying your emotions by engaging in sex, overeating, and lying is not a part of God’s plan for your life. The plans are to prosper you, give you hope, and a future. The previously listed actions often don’t help you prosper because they leave you feeling weak. The previously listed actions often don’t give you hope because they confine you to a life of dependency. The previously listed actions often don’t give you a future because they often cause you to end up dead or it creates a cycle for the next generation to struggle with. But, if you lean on the Lord you will see that His plan is good. 

Moreover, you can find peace in the fact that God doesn’t leave you once He gives you the plan. He wants you to call on Him so that He can listen to your concerns (v.12). He knows that starting a new plan can be scary, but He is with you always. When you fully commit to Him, you will find Him waiting with open arms to help you accomplish things your mind cannot fathom (v. 13). He wants to rescue you from those fake plans. He wants you to be able to go back to all the people that doubted you would ever be anything and show them how powerful He is (v.14). They will not understand how you made it out, which means that only God can get the credit. It’s time to get started, my friend. God has a plan for your life that He is waiting for you to accept. I don’t know what that plan is, but I know that it was perfectly designed just for you. No more listening to false prophets. Turn your attention to the one who knew you before you were conceived and get started.

Prayer: Lord, today, I want to thank you for being the creator of time. Thank you for being the creator of the plan for my life. Help me to turn away from plans that don’t align with your will for my life. I also ask that You comfort me in the transition. I need you Lord because I am willing and ready to get started. I want to thank you in advance for what is to come on this journey. In Jesus’ name, Amen.