FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012 -- A PERSONAL PLAN FOR 2012

God’s plan for us in this new year is suited to our unique talents and abilities – a plan that is meaningful, purposeful and joyful.  Our task is to believe God when He says our lives are valuable and then to put our lives into His hands so He can use us for the His purposes for us.  That’s where complete fulfillment and deep satisfaction come from … doing the fulfilling the work for which  we were created.

In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.  (2 Timothy 2:20-21  NIV)

God’s plan is that each of us will participate in work each day that blesses others and gives us deep satisfaction.  There is an old saying that “idle hands are the devil’s playground.” How often we fill our free time and overcome our boredom by turning to our addictions and dependencies. Time can be our friend or our enemy. God wants to help us use our time wisely as we engage in fruitful ministry. That might mean looking for paid employment.  It might mean becoming involved in volunteer work and offering our gifts and talents in that way.  It might mean exploring what training to prepare for a work that expresses my gifts.  It might mean doing something for my kids or cleaning up in my house or taking care of errands that I’ve been procrastinating about.  It’s often a combination of activities. If I’m feeling bored and my day seems empty, I’m living my own plans rather than God’s plans for me for 2012 because when I am engaged in God's plans I will be living in what is pleasing, and good, and perfect.


“Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, you will know how good and pleasing and perfect His will really is” (Romans 12:2).