July 18: God has a plan

But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.    (Acts 28:3-6 — New King James Version)

Paul had just been shipwrecked together with close to 300 men on his way to Rome to testify before Caesar. They swam ashore at the tip of Italy, on the island of Malta, and were warming themselves around fires when Paul was bitten by a venomous snake. Under normal circumstances he would have died — but God had other plans for him — and when the locals saw that he survived the snake bite, they concluded that he must be a god.

When we belong to God and are locked into His plans for our lives, nothing has the power to stop us. The devil would love to rob us of our plans, end our lives early, or destroy what is dear to us — he comes to steal, kill, and destroy — but when we belong to God, He will not allow it. Though the devil has power, he cannot decide when our lives will come to and end.

God had plans to use Paul in Rome in front of Caesar. How does God want to use you? Is that a question you ask yourself, or are you simply living your life the way you want? As a child of God, you have to give up your plans and be willing to fulfill God’s plan for your life. This may sound boring and unattractive, but it is anything but. God’s plan is what we were created for, and nothing in this world is more exciting and fulfilling than seeing His plan come together through us.

From now on, stop being afraid of the future. God has a plan for you. The devil will attack, but stay firm and calm, and know that His plan cannot be disrupted. Whatever God’s plan for you is, determine that you will not rest until you discover it.