SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1351

“Perfect Will, Purpose, and Plan”

I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. – Psalm 57:2

We cry out to God in prayer for healing, provision, and deliverance for ourselves and others. We rejoice and praise Him when He answers our prayer.

How do we react when His answer is ‘No’? ‘Not yet’?

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55:8-9

How do we handle His perceived silence on the matter?

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; – Psalm 37:7

How do we deal with His answer that is not in accord with our desires?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. – Proverbs 3:5-6

Jesus provided an example for us when He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane: Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done. – Luke 22:42

We act like arrogant, spoiled children when we approach God as if He were a genie in a bottle to grant us wishes. Who is ‘god’ in that relationship?

God is willing to heal us – When it is in accordance with His perfect will, purpose, and plan.

And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” – Mark 1:40-41

Jesus healed the leper and the woman with the issue of blood and numerous others. He did not heal Paul of his ‘thorn in the flesh’. Timothy continued to suffer with stomach issues. Can we trust in Him and in His perfect love, plan, and purpose when He chooses not to heal?

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28

Joni Eareckson Tada who sought God’s healing of her paralysis said it this way:

“God may remove your suffering, and that will be great cause for praise. But if not, He will use it, He will use anything and everything that stands in the way of His fellowship with you. So let God mold you and make you, transform you from glory to glory. That’s the deeper healing” (quoted on Grace to You, October 16, 2013)

God has a perfect plan and purpose for us – God’s plan for us was determined before we were born.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. – Psalm 139:16

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. – Psalm 138:8

Jesus said, ‘Come, follow Me’ – Our Christian walk is a walk of faith, trust, and obedience to the will of God for us. We receive guidance, direction, and power for living in this world through His abiding presence, He in us and us in Him.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you; And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. – Psalm 32:8; Isaiah 30:21

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! – Psalm 143:10

For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. – Philippians 2:13

God will meet our needs in all circumstances. – We must be careful to differentiate our wants and our way, from our needs and trusting acceptance of God’s sovereign will. We must always be confident in His love and in His perfect will, purpose, and plan for us.

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. – 1 John 5:14

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:19

Trust in God – Peace and contentment come from absolute trust in the love of the Father and in His perfect plan and purpose for us no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in.

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:11-13