God Has Good Plans For You In 2019!

God the Father is good and He wants the best for His children, those who have asked Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. Because we live in a fallen, sinful world, we will have trials, tests and negative things happen to us as well as the good. Everything that happens to us doesn’t come from God. It may come from the devil or even though man. Evil exists and is in the world. But every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights (James 1:17). God is light and in Him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). Jesus Himself said  that we will have tribulation in the world but to be of good cheer for He has overcome the world (John 16:33).

For the believer, God works all things out for our good (Romans 8:28) and no weapon formed against us shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). God’s grace (unmerited favor) covers our lives because of Jesus (John 1:14-17) and He has promised to never leave or forsake us  but is right here with us (Hebrews 13:5) ready to do battle on our behalf (2 Chronicles 20:15) and lead us to a place of victory if we let Him! (1 John 5:4; Deuteronomy 20:4; 1 Corinthians 10:13). There is fresh grace available each day so ask Him for it (2 Corinthians 12:9; Hebrews 4:16)!

When you look forward to the New Year 2019, are you filled with dread that nothing good will come and the situations that you find yourself in or found yourself in this past year will remain and hang over you? You don’t have to dread or be fearful of this. Let’s see what the Word of God says about our lives and our future.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11. (NKJV)

You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance. Psalm 65:11. (NKJV)

For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround Him as with a shield. Psalm 5:12. (NKJV)

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger, but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. Psalm 34:8-10. (NKJV)

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.  Psalm 46:1 – 3. (NKJV)

The LORD is my Shepard; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake. Psalm 23:1-3. (NKJV)

There are many things in the world that we could be fearful about i.e. terrorism and shootings at schools; having enough to pay our bills; losing our jobs; family issues and many more. But Jesus has told us to cast our cares on Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7) He says not to worry about tomorrow or the future because when we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, He will provide what we need (Matthew 6:25-34).  We don’t have to be troubled or afraid because He gives us His peace (John 14:27). Psalm 91 is a prayer for protection that I would recommend you read in its entirety and pray over you and your family each day.

God loves you and wants to give you good things. He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3) i.e. grace, healing. deliverance, provision, protection, preservation, righteousness, wisdom, direction, etc. All of the promises of God in Him are Yes and in Him Amen (2 Corinthians 1:20)

How do we receive all these blessings in our lives? By having faith in God (Mark 11:22; Hebrews 12:2) and knowing who we are in Christ Jesus (John 1:12; Ephesians 1:4-7; Colossians 1:13, 14, 22; 2:7, 10; 3:3, 12; Romans 8:17; Hebrews 2:11; 3:1). By asking for His help, trusting Him and following what He says and where He leads us (Proverbs 3:5, 6; Psalm 23). He only has our good and happiness in mind. Get into His Word and search for the verse or verses you need for the day or season in your life. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you and help you apply it to your life. God doesn’t lie and His Word doesn’t fail (Numbers 23:19; Isaiah 55:11)! See my earlier blogs about the Word of God.

As you look forward to 2019, let hope arise in your heart. Bible hope is an earnest expectation of good. Then apply faith; believing what God says about Himself and about you!

Sit down with the Word and go to Him in prayer and ask Him what He has planned for you in 2019. The Bible says that without a vision the people perish (Proverbs 29:18). In other words, we won’t get very far in our lives if we don’t have a vision of where we are to go and what we are to do. He also says to write it down and make it clear (Habakkuk 2: 2). Writing your goals, plans and vision that the Lord shows you will help you to carry them out. Ask Him to show you the next step and each step of the way until they are accomplished and fulfilled. If you don’t have realistic plans, than you probably won’t reach them!  God has a plan, a purpose and a destiny for you and you won’t be fulfilled until you are walking in it!

Having a relationship with Jesus as your Savior is the first step to having a good year. If you don’t have a relationship with Him as your Savior and Lord, you can by asking Him to forgive you for your sins and asking Him to come into your heart to be your Savior and Lord.  See my blog: God’s Love Revealed-Jesus Our Savior from 12/24/18 to find out more. If you already know Christ, make it your goal to draw closer to Him during the coming year. Ask Him to give you the wisdom and strength to face each new challenge. Remember, He loves you, He is good and He is good at being God!.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13. (NKJV)

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5. (NKJV)

Have a Happy and Blessed New Year. Abundant Blessings!