God's Plans

Yesterday morning, I felt God clearly place a verse on my mind that I hadn't thought of in awhile—one that I should have been clinging to, especially considering all the trials currently surrounding my family, friends, and community.

Isaiah 55:8 in the ESV reads "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord."

What an amazing verse to keep in mind in the midst of struggles. When our lives don't go according to our plans, keep this verse in mind. First of all, for Christians, "our" life isn't "ours" at all. It belongs to God. That's what it means to surrender completely to Him. To hand God the reigns and say "Okay, Lord, where do You want to go? What do You want to do?"

Secondly, there's also a problem with the other "our" in that sentence. We shouldn't be making our own plans! That's not our job; it's for God to do. I can tell you from plenty of experience that "our" plans mean NOTHING to God. He wildly shakes them up all the time.

"It's a funny thing, how much time we spend planning our lives. We so convince ourselves of what we want to do, that sometimes we don't see what we're meant to do."
-Susan Gregg Gilmore

Humans make plans and think that anything other than those plans are failure. This isn't true! Rather, whatever God leads you to do is what you should do, whether it follows your plans or not. Oftentimes, this trust is incredibly difficult to give. In fact, I myself love to plan. It helps me stay focused and have goals. I'm not saying that all planning is wrong—it just has to be aligned with God's plans for you, and if He decides to change them, then submit. Everything is harder if you don't submit to Him and His plans.

Even if it doesn't seem like it, God's plans are always far superior to our own. He knows the future; He knows what is best for us; He loves us. The God who made the universe, who made you, who made everything knows the number of hairs on your head—He can take care of you. (Luke 12:7) When our plans seem like the best way to go, remember Isaiah 55:8. God's thoughts aren't the same as ours, and we don't know His plans for us or others. No matter your circumstance, I promise you that God is with you. He'll never leave you and He does indeed have a plan for you, even when it doesn't seem clear or like the best route. Trust Him in all things, and let His plans guide you.

~

Update on my friend who was in the accident last Wednesday: Her surgery on Thursday went about as well as the doctors had hoped. Though she still has no feeling in her lower extremities, she does have feeling one inch lower than she did the previous day. She starts therapy soon and will be transferred to a hospital that specializes in spinal chord injuries. Keep praying for a miracle; it already is one that she is alive and has no apparent brain injuries! Thank you for your faithful prayers!

Dear Readers . . .

Dear Blog Readers,

I wanted to take a moment and express my gratefulness for your unending support. In the midst of my irregular posting, you continue to read. Wow. By doing so, you give me amazing encouragement. You have no idea what it means to me.

I don't have a blog for the sake of getting followers, but as any blogger knows, followers and comments are inspirations for us to keep writing. In my case, blogging is almost my only means of sharing my thoughts with people, and to know that there are people out there who care to read (and enjoy reading) my writing is a great feeling. Your support encourages me to keep it up. When I remember that I have followers, I remember that what I have to say will be heard within my small sphere of influence, and maybe it will even touch some lives.


So this post is dedicated to you, my wonderful blog followers. Your support is some of the greatest encouragement I receive in my writing, and I'm deeply touched to know that my words are affecting people's lives. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You keep me writing.

Love,
Bethany

P.S. Be sure to check out my new blog layout! :) Also, on the right sidebar is a poll where you can vote on your favorite types of my posts. Thanks!

Where Is the Right to Life?

In school, I wrote the following paragraph as an assignment. After doing so, I decided to share it with you. Maybe you will find that this challenges you, as it did me in writing it.

Whatever happened to the inalienable rights of all men as given in the Declaration of Independence? Where have the rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” gone? True, the American citizen possesses these rights, but what of the defenseless? What of those who have no voice? What of them who desire life, but are denied? What of the helpless babe in the womb? What of the pregnant unwed woman who sees no option but abortion? The society of today has made exceptions to the rule granting all humans life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. When babies are killed, they lose their liberty and pursuit of happiness as well as their lives. They are discarded as waste, unimportant, and burdensome. Some even use these babies for their own gain. Most call it abortion, but it should be called what it is—murder. It has become lawful to abolish the right to life. Without a voice, babies are helpless to the horrors done to them. Few are standing up for the rights of the unborn. When American citizens refuse to stand up for the rights of babies, then they are giving up the rights that they themselves love without regard to the babies that will never be able to enjoy the experience of their freedoms. Because Americans call these “fetuses” burdensome, they cast them away without a second thought. Who is defending the defenseless? Who is fighting for the freedom of those who have no voice? Who is working boldly toward bringing life to those who so desire, but are denied. Who will help the helpless babe in the womb? Who will stand with the pregnant unwed woman who sees no option but abortion? If even Christians, who have a God-given mandate to stand up for them, will not do so, then how can they expect the nation—and the world—to do what they won't?

This isn't an easy calling. But it is right. Christians need to step out of their comfort zones and enter the pain of the world to come to the defense of those unborn. They are alive, and they need a defender. Will you—will I—take up the call?