Plans and Paths

Don't think it's wrong. Just continue to "keeping with repentance and keeping in step with the Spirit."

Hi @Br4nd0n

Br4nd0n said:

We are not called to make our own plans, but to follow Gods path.

Aside from keeping with repentance and keeping in step with the Spirit, if I do not know what path i am to be on (in particular the path that leads to Gods divine appointments in ministering to the lost), is it wrong for me to make plans of my own (just as i was not called to do) and fulfil them, until i can be sure of Gods path?

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We are called to walk in God's Ways and according to His Will. But this doesn't mean we should sit idly until we hear a voice from on high or get a miraculous opportunity presented to us. Far from it. In this regard, remember the parable of the ten talents.

Yahweh, the Creator, created us in His image. To be creative, like Him and think for ourselves. He does have an army of Angels who seemingly do as they are told. But with us, it is not so. As sons and daughters by promise and grace, He has given us free will to choose how and when we serve Him (or not), within guidelines of His house rules (or commandments). Yes, he might have a specific purpose or job for certain of us but the "business as usual" is to serve willing and proactively.

Therefore, if you walk in His Ways and according to His Will, serve Him with a full heart and with all your creativity, intelligence, skill and power - remembering love as the key foundation behind it all. If you seek to do activities to glorify Him and help others, you'll do well.

Now, if you did so happen to choose something that was against His Will, it will no prosper and you will find impossible to do it well. Train your heart to listen to His Spirit. However...

Br4nd0n said:

Examples: writing worship/outreach music with spiritual meat in the lyrics, or simply using the more poetic excerpts of the Bible as lyrics. Ex.2 go through bibles and taking the care to underline and write all the notes i wish i had as a new believer (historical context and perspective) and distributing them in my community

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Amen, these sound like worthy activities!

Br4nd0n said:

Gods will-- which is all i want

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Keep this in your heart and He will surely bless you in your work.

Peace to you brother.

Hello @Br4nd0n, I thought you might be interested in hearing this broadcast from Ligonier Ministries/Renewing Your Mind, with Dr. R C Sproul. Its principal focus is on the things to NOT do when looking to discover God's will for your life (Dr. Sproul also discusses how to discover God's will toward the end of the message, but he does so with an economy of words, so yo will need to listen to what he has to say pretty carefully there).

BTW, the way to get the broadcast to play (it's free to listen to online right now, just FI) is to click the little black ">" just below the big green box (a couple of people I know have had trouble finding it, so I thought that I should mention it).

God bless you!!

--David
p.s. - I have to run, but I hope to return this evening (Dv). In the meantime, here is a wonderful command with a wonderful promise from God attached to it that you may want to take time to consider.


Edit: This book, Can I Know God's Will (also by Dr. Sproul) may prove to be useful to you, and it can be downloaded FOR FREE in ePub: Can I Know God's Will?: R.C. Sproul - EPUB eBook, Book | Ligonier Ministries Store, and/or in MOBI (which is Kindle): Can I Know God's Will?: R.C. Sproul - KINDLE eBook, Book | Ligonier Ministries Store, just FYI.
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Br4nd0n said:

We are not called to make our own plans, but to follow Gods path.

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Welcome to CF. I'm not so sure about that claim. We are all called to varing degrees to the Great Commission but that does not mean we are not to able to plan our lives. Blessings.

Br4nd0n said:

We are not called to make our own plans, but to follow Gods path.

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yes

But God in you can give you things for planning in your personal life . . . in sharing with Him.

"for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13)

Therefore, in any of us, God is able to initiate what He wants us to will and to do. So, we simply trust Him to do this. And in preparation for whatever ministry He wants us to do, we need to be able to submit to how God in us at each moment is personally guiding us . . . so that in our ministering it is what He has us doing. So, we need to learn this basic, now, so we are ready to do this later with bigger things

"He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much," Jesus says in Luke 16:10.

Also, it is His basic will that each of us is personally ruled by His peace in our hearts >

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

In God's own peace, we have God Himself ruling us. He rules how we are, how we love, and shares His own creativity with us for how to love each and every person.

So, don't make any plans without this!

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

John 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
John 8:12 I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 11:9 Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
John 12:35-36 Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.
1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.