The Confident Planner

The Lord will work out His plans for my life - for your faithful love O Lord, endures forever. Do not abandon me, for you made me. Psalm 138:8

As a new Christian, one of the many challenges I had to overcome was being confident (and comfortable) knowing God is working His plan for my life, even if  I don't know the details.  Early in my college career, and not unlike some of you, I had no idea who or what I wanted to be when I grew up. Some of my classmates knew exactly what they wanted to do, where they wanted to go, and who they wanted to be, right down to  the number of children they would have and what type of house they would live in. Not me. I did not have a clue about tomorrow, much less 5-10 years later.  But God knew. He knows all. And what is even better, He is working it all for your good.  Looking back, my college days were years ago, and years before my "encounter" with the Lord when I received His gift of salvation. And while it took me some time to see how He was working His plan in my life, I now know and have confidence that He is, even though I still don't have all the details.

It took me spending time with the Lord, learning His promises, trusting Him daily, and seeing how He carried me from situation to situation to really know that He is in control. This pattern has repeated consistently over the years, so much so that I now have confidence, not in myself or my plans, but in Christ Jesus, who is ultimately working His plan in my life. His plan is better than anything I can think or imagine, and I'm glad He didn't allow me to do it myself!  Once I "let go and let God" as they saying goes, I saw what He was capable of accomplishing in my life and what I was not. For the person I am and for how rich and fruitful my life is, I could not have created something so wonderful and perfect for me. Not perfection, because that is only Christ, but perfect for my situation, my personality, my talents, and my passions. 

Practice:

So whatever you are planning, or not, seek Christ first. Pray over whatever you are doing or want to do. Then stand in confidence that He will work His perfect plan for your life. 

Prayer:

Father, thank you! Thank you that you think of me the way you do. Thank you that you authored all of my days before I even came to be. My life is yours, and because you love me so much, you will only give me your best. You gave me the ultimate gift which was your son Jesus Christ, and now there is nothing else that you will not give me, for my good and for Your glory. Thank you for loving me so. In Jesus' Precious Name, Amen. 

~ Stacey
Women of Grace Member

And we know God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. Romans 8:38

The Year of Sevens

2014—is a year of Sevens (2+0+1+4=7 & 14/2=7)

 What significance does the number seven have for Christians? Well, many! Here’s just a few:

In the bible, the number seven represents fullness, completion/finality, rest, and spiritual perfection (Gen 1:31 & 2:1-3; Dan 9:2, 12: 5-7; Rev 10:5-7, Rev 16:17—consider reading the amplified (amp) version of these verses).

http://www.biblewheel.com/Topics/SevenfoldLight.php --discusses the Menorah and some of the other articles/furniture pieces (totaling seven) in the Arc of the Covenant and how they are built on the concept of sevens. This is great because as we get ready to do the Daniel fast and delve deeper into the Books of Daniel and Revelation led by Harold we can see God bringing all of this together for us. The discussion on this site will also bring to mind some of the things God led Harold to reveal to us when he first visited our class and instructed on the contents and meaning of the Arc of the Covenant.

As we’ve also been learning more about the Jewishness of our savior via “Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus” the following excerpt may also strike as interesting and relevant to where God is leading our studies:

"In the Hebrew, 7 is shevah. It is from the root savah, to be full or satisfied, have enough of. Hence the meaning of the word "seven" is dominated by this root, for on the seventh day God rested from the work of Creation. It was full and complete, and good and perfect. Nothing could be added to it or taken from it without marring it. Hence the word Shavath, to cease, desist, rest, and Shabbath, Sabbath, or day of rest."

It is 7, therefore, that stamps with perfection and completeness that in connection with which it is used. Of time, it tells of the Sabbath, and marks off the week of seven days, which, artificial as it may seem to be, is universal and immemorial in its observance amongst all nations and in all times. It tells of that eternal Sabbath-keeping which remains for the people of God in all its everlasting perfection.
In the creative works of God, seven completes the colors of the spectrum and rainbow, and satisfies in music the notes of the scale. In each of these the eighth is only a repetition of the first.”

This excerpt can be read in its entirety at:
 http://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/7.html
where there are other significance of the number seven mentioned such as the seven fold blessing of Abraham, God’s seven part covenant with Israel, and the seven sprinklings of the temple.

Scriptures to Ponder and Apply: Psalms 12:6 (amp) says, “The words and promises of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times over”. Now, read the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3:19-30 (amp). In the second half of verse 19 Nebuchadnezzar “ordered that the furnace be heated seven times more than it was usually heated [emphasis mine]”.  When the whole ordeal was over (finished) in verses 28 and 30 King Nebuchadnezzar “Blessed” God and “Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon”. 

What can we learn from these verses that should be directly applied to our lives in this year? If you’ve been praying about a situation for awhile, have gone through what seems like trial by fire, have been trusting God and holding out, then your circumstances and barriers will begin to bless God and you’ll be promoted to the next perfect level God has planned for you. God’s word/promises that He has made to you personally will be refined/realized/perfected in this year of sevens. 

My Humble Prayer for Us:  Abba, your word says that you will perfect that which concerns us (Psalms138:8) and again that you know the thoughts you have for us—thoughts of peace to give us hope (Jer 29:11); therefore, thank you for gathering our concerns, bottling our tears, dispelling our fears, addressing our needs and perfecting your WORD in our lives in this 2014 year of perfection. You instructed us to be perfect because you ARE already perfect (Matt 5:48)—thank you for perfecting us to affect others for your glory. 

In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

Keisha Blackwell

Women of Grace Member

Community Bible Church

Confidence NOW in Christ

The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? 
The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1 NKJV

I had an aunt that used to say, "how do you know, that you know, that you know?" 
Basically, what she was asking was, "how do I know for sure, without an iota of 
doubt, that this is true"? Reading God's Word and His promises daily gives us 
the confidence we need to cast our cares on Him and find refuge in His presence. 
When you made the decision to accept Christ as your savior, in that instant, you 
also supernaturally changed who is fighting your battles. No longer are you 
alone, now you have the power of Christ to protect you. And long before you 
accepted Christ, He was there. In Psalm 139, David says " where can I go from 
your spirit? If I ascend into heaven you are there, if I make my bed in hell, you are there also...

"Even there you hand shall lead me and your right hand shall hold me".  

Contemplate:
Think back to a time when you were not sure whether you were going to overcome a 
challenge or survive a situation. How did that make you feel? Afraid? Alone? 
Helpless? Defeated? And how did you feel when you were victorious? Was your 
faith strengthened?
Scripture:
Psalm 27 says, "The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?" 
When you meditate on this scripture and put it in perspective, is there anything 
or anyone who can compete with God? Romans 8:38 and 39 explains succinctly
how wide, deep, and powerful God's love is for us. 

When you have someone who loves you this much, how can you doubt anything He says? 

Practice:
A great practice for building your confidence is to remember and praise. Remember all 
that He has brought you through, remember how He delivered you, remember how He 
made a way when you didn't know what to do, and remember that He alone is God. 
Praise Him for the accomplishments, the favor, the battles won, and the 
resources He provided. If you like to write or journal, this is a great way to 
capture your thoughts. Going back later and reading your account of how God 
delivered you will encourage you every time you read it.

Prayer:
Father God, thank you for helping me to see that ultimately you are in control 
of all things. Give me the ability to cast my cares on you and to trust you. 
Help me to NOT lean on my own understanding but on the One who understands all. 
In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain 

that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times. - Martin Luther