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“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

–         Jeremiah 29:11-13

I read this scripture endlessly in my youth. I knew it was for me. It spoke to my heart and I believed it. God has everything planned out for me. Everything is laid before me. All I have to do is obey and he’ll guide me. Plans I can have all I want, but God will provide everything I need to get to where it is I’m supposed to go.Things have changed since that day. I haven’t been praying the prayers I should have been. I haven’t been seeking like I should have been. I haven’t been calling upon the Lord as I should…
 
Why not?? Because I live in America (Canada, it’s the same thing in this context) and life is good? I have a family that provides for me, even when I don’t deserve it (I feel like a mooch much of the time). I have been sucked in to the thinking that I can make my own success. I have believed the Prosperity Gospel for far too long. I knew God was by my side, but I still worried about money. I still worried about a job. I still worried about what things should look like. I read that scripture in Jeremiah and believed it, but didn’t practice it.

 

Even in my own frustration of “stuff” and living a life of being on top, I still fell under its traps. Deep down I still wanted to be ahead. As a wilderness guide I wanted to have the best gear, and not just the necessary stuff to do the job. It was about presence, image, and the resume. Not at all what God had in store for me. I trusted in my own ability.

And so the past 7 1/2 months have been about praying, seeking, calling, and listening. And doing it all with ALL of my heart. I know God has my plans laid out. His thoughts are about me. His intentions are good and not evil. The only way I’ll be able to hear him is when I ask him. He’s my Father, my Friend, my Guide, and my King.

A few days ago I met a couple from the US and we started chatting. I found out that they were Christians as well and they shared a little bit about how God had called them to India. After sharing a little bit of who I was and why I was in India, he asked me if I knew what I was going to do when this thing is over. In all my wisdom and cunning answers I said, “I’m going to be an Evangelist”.

That’s when he wrote down on a small piece of paper Jer. 29:11-13. All he said about it was Jeremiah 29:11 will tell you what’s in store for you. And to get there, read verses 12-13.

That’s it! That’s all he said about that. I had ambitions of what next year will look like. I had an idea of what I “wanted to do” for a living. Truth be told all things I’ve ever thought are seeming further from what God wants. I know my motives may not have been what the Lord wanted, but I know he still could have used. It’s not about me, it’s about the Kingdom.

I’m more lost than ever; never mind my future, but even what when I get home will look like. It’s not about me anymore. Truth is it never was to begin with. I’ve heard it said that the Kingdom of God has nothing to do with me, but I have everything to do with it!!

As the church are we calling upon God? Are we finding Him? Are we continuing to seek? Are we seeking with all of our heart? Is he listening? Are we praying?