The new year is about to begin. Do you have new year's resolutions? Perhaps you have wishes and ideas for the future. Maybe you want to improve your health, deepen your faith, or spread the gospel to those around you. Have you made these plans for the coming year or future with God?
Motivation
If you want to start making plans, how do you make them? Do you make them yourself or together with the Lord? And why do you want to start doing this?
As a Christian, it is important to look critically at your motives. Examine in prayer and with Bible study whether your plan is according to God's will. You may say, "We will do this or that. I can do something good this way or that way," but prayerfully consider whether you are following the Light of the world and not the sparks of your own kindling. Some ideas are very commendable, selfless, and valuable, but make sure you do it together with the Lord.
By following your own way, you will be disappointed. If you are in God's will, He will bless it and help you. We also read this in the first chapter of James. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." James 1:5. So let us stand firm and build on the Rock, Christ instead of being like the waves. James 1:6-8.
God's plans for our future
In addition to prayer, studying the Bible is important in making plans. The Bible is God's Word, through which He speaks to us and makes His will known.
"Wherefore be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:17
Thus, we read in Jeremiah that God has our best interests at heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
He wants to give us future and hope! Through Bible study and prayer, we can find Him, love Him, and receive His help in our plans and their implementation.
You may take an example from Abraham. When God called him, he obeyed in faith. Hebrews 11:8. Jesus also did not make plans for Himself during His life on earth. Day by day, the Father showed His plans, and Christ accepted God's plans for Him. Thus, you too can be led by the Lord by trusting Him in faith.
Working together with God
Everyone is tested and tried in their lives. By the way we do the work Christ has given us, we determine our future destiny. Let us not neglect the tasks God assigned to us. Aim to fulfill God's plan for you. Always engage in service and work to help those for whom Jesus gave his life.
In making plans, we must cooperate with God. We often look at things with a very different perspective than God. Sometimes we do not understand in advance why the Lord gives us a certain task. In retrospect, it may then become apparent why He did so. Therefore, we must be careful to put our own wishes and ideas for the new year in the foreground. Let God lead you.
"We are only selfishly wise when we plan for the future, and make resolutions and bring them in, and we ourselves arrange matters, as we think in all wisdom; for in so doing we are in danger of getting in the way of the Lord. Stand out of the way with your many resolutions, and when the time comes for God to bring his people into trying places to test and prove them, he will help them, and he will not fail or be discouraged, but will be a present help in trouble. (Psalms 46:1)."
Review and Herald, april 15, 1890 par. 5.
God's will for our health
As you study God's will in the Bible, you discover more aspects of God's intentions. When it comes to God's will for health, you will find several texts in the Bible. For example, texts in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7: "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, … That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; … For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.”
Our physical and spiritual well-being also concerns God, for we are the temple of the Holy Spirit (as found in 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, among others). Paul exhorts us to take good care of our bodies. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which isyour reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:1-2.
Intending to set yourself a new, good habit to improve your health will be blessed. It can remove the cause of illness and support the self-healing ability that the Lord placed in our body when He created man.
In conclusion
In the parable in Matthew 15:14-30, we read about the talents given by the Lord. The servants who used their talents were blessed. Only by seeking the good of others could they benefit themselves. Only by imparting God's gifts in the present life could they provide for eternity.
When you make good resolutions or plan for the future, make them with God. He will guide and help you.
"And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you,
and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you:
for the LORD is a God of judgment:
blessed are all they that wait for him....
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying,
This is the way, walk ye in it.”
Isaiah 30:18 and 21
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