The Best of What's Around

I start this post off with an excerpt from an article by Dr. John Piper, on October 14, 1991 entitled "For Men Only."

Why is it so hard for us to make plans? Why is it hard to choose ahead of time what we will do instead of just doing what comes along?
One reason is that Satan does not want us to plan. He loves it when men drift and coast and let their lives be molded by the whimsical pressures of every day. But he trembles when he sees a man take a Bible and a note pad and go out under a tree by himself to think about his life’s priorities.

Satan knows he is in trouble whenever men take an hour, go to a park, sit down under a tree and ask, “What’s God’s purpose for my life, my job, my singleness, my marriage, my fatherhood, my gifts?

I had a conversation with Julian yesterday in Mardel about planning. I think the topic came about because I can't get over how some can be so caught up in planning their lives out, that we neglect the things that are happening right now. I naively stated that I don't like planning, because my plans usually get shattered by God anyways (not in a bad way). He told me that this was not a correct way to think. Hmmmm....I wondered why.

I decided to wake up early today, rather my body decided to wake me up early today, so that I could get into some books that I've recently acquired. I started the morning off with a nice cup of coffee, and Francis Chan's, "Forgotten God," a book teaching us to remember and utilize the power of the Holy Spirit. Often in our Christian bubble, we believe that if we have Jesus, why should we care about the Holy Spirit? The best way to put it, in John 16:7,

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

Chan puts it this way,

How could it be better to trade a human Jesus-a man they could talk and eat and laugh with-for a spirit they could physically see?...But what do wie do with the fact that Jesus says it is better for His followers to have the Holy Spirit?

This totally destroys the notion that the Holy Spirit is less than the Father, or the Son. As a Godhead, they all 3 work together for the same purpose. Neglecting to live in the Spirit, is neglecting the counselor that Jesus sent to us. Though Jesus is in heaven with the Father, we can be assured that we have a Great Counselor dwelling inside of us daily, with whom we find strength.

Back to the "planning" discussion; I'm beginning to find it not only a great suggestion, but essential to our life to plan for things. If Satan can create in us such a complacency about where our lives our going, then he can put so many things in our way that we just see as normal. If we plan, while seeking the Lord's will, then seeing these roadblocks will not seem normal. They will seem like roadblocks that we will ask the Holy Spirit to destroy. "What is God's purpose for my life?" cannot be answered by idly watching the world go by. Let us instead seek God's purpose by seeking counsel from the One that promises to strengthen us (Isaiah 41:10). We can also be assured that His plans are still better than we can imagine in Psalm 16:11,

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore

I will live in such a way that I plan for what I will do in this season of life and the next, but will be ready for God to lead me in His will.


Last bit of encouragement from C.H. Spurgeon:
"I will strengthen thee."—Isaiah 41:10

God has a strong reserve with which to discharge this engagement; for He is able to do all things. Believer, till thou canst drain dry the ocean of omnipotence, till thou canst break into pieces the towering mountains of almighty strength, thou never needest to fear.