7 Keys To God's Plans For You

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Have you ever been late to an appointment or perhaps you overlooked one altogether?

I know people who have lost their jobs. . .or didn’t get a new job because they were late to an appointment.

When you’re going to meet your children or grandchildren’s teacher for the first time . . . that’s not a good time to be late for an appointment.

Of every appointment you’ve ever had. . .there is one appointment you are not going to want to miss.

God scheduled this appointment for you before you were ever born. It’s a part of your destiny. . .His purpose and plans for your life.

Let’s talk about two scriptures in Jeremiah as we begin to understand God’s plans for our lives.

First, Jeremiah 1:5 in the Amplified Bible says:

Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.

Your loving Heavenly Father had plans for you even before you were born.

Second, Jeremiah 29:11 in the New International Version says:

”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.”

God’s plans for you are for good.

Dr. Myles Munroe who was tragically killed nearly three years ago, once said:

“Your life has the potential to fulfill your purpose.  If, however, you imprison that potential, you rob your life of its purpose and fulfillment.  You and every other individual on this planet possess an awesome treasure.

“Too much of this treasure is buried every day, untapped and untouched in the cemeteries of the world.  Much talent, skill and creativity have been lost to the world for want of a little courage.  Many obscure men and women enter eternity pregnant with potential, with a stillborn purpose. Living with ability brings responsibility.  Dying with ability reveals irresponsibility.”

Life is full of possibilities. . .whether negative or positive becomes a choice we make.

That’s why the enemy will do everything possible to confuse you and keep you from accomplishing the appointment God has for you.  The enemy wants you to live in the land of the disappointment, discouraged and depressed.

Many Christians have chosen to let discouragement cast its dark cloud over their life thinking that they have missed the best life had to offer.

Look at the word disappointment like this dis appointment.

Dis means cut away or to be separated from.

Put the two words together and you see that by choosing to live in discouragement you have allowed yourself to be cut away from or separated from God’s appointment for your life!

God’s plan is for you to live a successful life and provides a plan for you to do so. However, His plan requires action on your part.

Here are seven keys to knowing God’s plan but you must know what the Word says about your future and the appointment He made for you.

You’ll find the answer you seek it in the Word of God

First, read It:

No matter where you are in life. . .living the dream or dreaming of a life worth living. . . you’ll find the direction, encouragement, comfort, peace, strength and power you need in the Word.

Acts 15:31 in the Amplified Bible says:

“And when they read it, the people rejoiced at the consolation and encouragement [it brought them].

Reading the Word will provide you with inside information about the plans and appointment God made for you.

Ephesians 3:4 says:

“As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ.”

I also need to point out that reading a verse once is not enough.

In fact, I want to recommend that you read James 1:5-7 in the Amplified Bible a minimum of seven times straight.

James 1:5-7 in the Amplified Bible says:

“If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.

“6 Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind.

“7 For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord.”

Why do I want you to read the verses seven times. . .that leads to the second key.

Second, understand It.

James 1:19 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry.”

I find it significant that James 1:19 begins with the word “understand” before we’re told to be “ready” listeners.

God wants us to read the Word. . .He wants us to hear the Word. . .but He also wants us to understand what you have read.

In eight different scriptures we are admonished to hear and understand.

God doesn’t want you to be ignorant.

1 Corinthians 12:1 in the Amplified Bible says:

“NOW ABOUT the spiritual gifts (the special endowments of supernatural energy), brethren, I do not want you to be misinformed.”

The King James Version says “I would not have you ignorant.”

God doesn’t want you ignorant about anything in His Word or of His promises for you to have a life worth living.  God wants you to hear and understand the fullness of His Word.

Reading the word isn’t enough. . .we must also understand what we’ve read.

Third, analyze it:

As you read the Word. . .continuing in it daily. . .your understanding will grow.  With this growth will come spiritual discoveries and revelatory insight like you’ve never experienced before.

That’s why. . .it’s important you keep a pen and paper close by so you can make notes on the things you’re now understanding.

This process also provides you with opportunities to analyze the Word and how it might apply to your life.

2 Corinthians 10:5 in the Amplified Bible says:

“[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ . . .”

In order to be successful in everyday life … we MUST take captive (make our prisoner) every thought that comes to our minds and analyze it.  As we analyze our thoughts we will be able to program our destiny.

Here are four questions to ask yourself as you analyze the Word.

1. What does the verse say?

2. What does the verse mean?

3. What does the verse have to do with me?

4.  How can I apply this new understanding in my life?

Hosea 14:9 in the New Living Translation says:

“Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. But in those paths sinners stumble and fall.”

WE have a mental and spiritual exercise I want you to start today as you prepare for the last half of 2017 and beyond.

In either your data information retrieval system. . .whether it’s a smart phone, a tablet, computer or a three-hole punched legal pad which you can place in a three-ringed binder. . .I want you to make a list of the six major areas of your life.

Spiritual. . .Family. . .Financial. . .Mental. . .Physical. . .Social.

First, I want you to begin listing how God has manifested His presence in your life during the first half of 2017.  Recall the times He delivered you. . .the times you experienced miracle manifestation. . .the blessings He’s provided for you.

You can call this listing “Hallelujah 2017” or “Look What The Lord Is Doing In 2017” or whatever you wish.

I want to ensure you that you can make no greater preparation for success in the remainder of 2017 than by listing what God did for and through you in the first half of this year.

I want you to start this today. . .you’ll be glad you did.

Fourth, personalize it:

The Word of God becomes alive when you personalized scriptures.  God’s love becomes even more real as His Word speaks directly to you.

Hebrews 4:12 in the Amplified Bible says:

“For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.”

Personalize the scripture by inserting your name or that of a loved one into the verse.  Add “them” or “he” or “she” when praying for others.  You can also just speak their name(s).  Again… personalize it!

Deuteronomy 31:6 which says:  

"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord our God is the One who goes with <<Your Name>>. He will not fail <<Your Name>> or forsake <<him/her>>."

Visit www.haroldherring.com  Click on the Personalized Scripture button where we have eight groups of scriptures than can be personalized and printed with your name.  They include:

Financial scriptures, healing verses, success scriptures, never give up & overcoming fear scriptures and Psalm 20, 23 and 91.

The Word is speaking your name and that of family members as you claim God’s precious promises to you….the Word was designed for you…before the beginning of time.  But now is the time … you must begin to realize like never before that God is talking to you. . .He has plans for you.

Fifth, memorize it:

Once you’ve personalize your verses. . .commit them to memory. . .and begin to confess them while driving your car, walking on the beach or in a park, waiting for the bus, on a break at work, sitting in your favorite chair or in your quiet place.

Why should we memorize the Bible. . .because it’s essential for our very survival.

Jesus said in Matthew 4:4 in the Amplified Bible that our spiritual existence depends upon the Word.  The verse says:

“But He replied, It has been written, Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.”

Our spiritual growth is a process. . .that requires effort on our part.

2 Peter 1:5 in the Amplified Bible says:

“For this very reason, adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in [b]exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy), and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge (intelligence).”

We don’t hear the term sanctification much anymore . . . although we should . . .it’s significant to our spiritual growth.

Sanctification simply said is becoming more like Jesus and less like the world.

John 17:17 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth.”

One final point. . .saying a verse 100 times a day is not nearly as effective as saying that verse once a day for 100 days.

Also, as you learn new verses. . .continue to speak the ones previously memorized.

Psalm 119:16 in the Message Bible says:

“I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you, I attentively watch how you’ve done it.  I relish everything you’ve told me of life, I won’t forget a word of it.”

Sixth, activate It:

Make no mistake about it. . .God wants us reading, understanding, analyzing, personalizing and memorizing the Word. . .but, most of all He wants us acting on what we’ve read, understood, analyzed, personalized and memorized.

James 1:23-24 in the Message says:

“Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.”

As Dr. Morris Cerullo always says. . .faith is a fact but you must act.  We must be doers of the Word.

James 1:22 in the Amplified Bible says:

“But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].”

Acting each day on what’s been revealed to you through God’s Word empowers you to pursue with even greater passion His plans for your life.

Seventh, manifest It:

God’s Word accomplishes God’s purpose including His plans for your future.

Isaiah 55:11 in the Message Bible:

“So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed.  They’ll do the work I sent them to do, they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.”

If you follow these seven ways to know God’s plan for your life. . .you will find the doors you’ve wanted opened. . .the breakthrough you’ve been needing. . .the direction you desire and yes, the financial miracles you’ve been praying for.

Finally, Proverbs 8:32 in the Message Bible offers some pretty sound advice for the next seven days and beyond.

"So, my dear friends, listen carefully; those who embrace these my ways are most blessed. Mark a life of discipline and live wisely; don't squander your precious life. Blessed the man, blessed the woman, who listens to me, awake and ready for me each morning, alert and responsive as I start my day's work. When you find me, you find life, real life, to say nothing of God's good pleasure. . ."

Most of all … God wants us acting on what we’ve read, understood, analyzed, personalized, memorized, activated and manifested.

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