God's Good Plans for Us, a Devotional

 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain.
[1 Corinthians 15:9:10a]

I am sure we  all feel discouraged sometimes when we remember our past, the mistakes we made, the sins we committed, the people we hurt. We think  "god couldn't possibly use us to do his work. The enemy encourages this belief by whispering to us "Surely you didn't think that god could use you after all you've done? Surely you didn't expect that God would have a purpose for you?"

I want to encourage you today that no matter where you've been or what you have done, God still has a wonderful plan for your life and he has work for each of us to do.   As the bible says:
 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
[Jeremiah 29:11 NLT]



you might ask "But what can I do for god?"he will show you in his good time.   God knows exactly what he wants us to do and he will help us to do it , empowering and enabling us to do the work he gives us. Our part is to obey him and he even helps us to do that.

In reality none of us are worthy that God should use us to do his work. We all fail him so often. if he was looking for those who were perfect to do his work he would use angels, and of course he does send out his angels to do his will, but the wonderful truth is that god  chooses to use us, weak, sinful human beings though we are.  Of course, we need to be saved first, that is a prerequisite.  We also need to be willing to obey him, even when he gives us work that is difficult and challenging. He won't tell us to do something that he wont give us the power and ability to do. Remember he knows us better than we know ourselves.

So how do I know that god can and will use anyone, no matter what they have done in the past, who is willing to follow him and do what he says?  Well  I know the story of a guy called Saul of Tarsus who called  himself  "The worst of sinners", the man who became known as the Apostle Paul.

He wasn't exaggerating when he called himself the worst of sinners, before he was saved he persecuted the Church. let's read about it:
But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house,
he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
[Acts 8:3]

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at
Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
][Acts 9]


Yet, once God revealed himself to him, he didn't look back. Almost at once he started preaching about Jesus with great boldness. Paul and his companions travelled around telling people about Jesus and were the first to take the message to the people of Europe. While in prison for his faith Paul wrote letters that have had an impact on lives even to this day.

 If God can use a man like Saul of Tarsus aka the apostle Paul, he can use a person like you or I. Jesus can use anyone to do his work who is willing to obey him . Let us seek God and ask him to show us what he wants us to do, trusting him to give us the power and ability to do all that he asks of us.

though doing the work God has for us is a big part of the Christian life, God has other plans for us too. The  most important thing about being a child of God is to develop a relationship with our loving heavenly father, who is always with us and delights to bless us with good things. Each new day is a gift from god full of promise. His mercy is new to us every morning and his  love for us is everlasting!

Prayer: thank you god for all that you do for us and have done for us. Thank you that you can use anyone, no matter what their past, to do your work here on earth. We know that you have a reward in heaven for those who faithfully obey you. Thank you Lord that you love us enough to accept us as we are but you love us too much to leave us that way. I give you praise in the name of Jesus, amen.