God's Plan or Satan's
The seconds are counted down – “10, 9, 8, … 1,” and shouts are heard, “Happy New Year!” Yes, a New Year has come; the Year of our Lord, 2012. If Jesus tarries in His coming, what is His purpose for you this year? We saw in our December newsletter in Jer. 29:11-14 (Amp.) that God says that His thoughts and plans toward us are “thoughts and plans of peace and not of evil, to give us an expected end.” Even though this is God’s plan, it is contingent upon our praying and seeking (v.12&13). Some may wonder, “Well, if it is God’s plan, why do I have to pray and seek?”
Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief (satan) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Grab this “abundant life” with your heart. Meditate this Truth! It literally means that Jesus came to give you abundance, or that which abounds. The word denotes that which is not absolutely essential to life, but which is superadded to make life happy; not bare existence but superadded things which are needful to make life eminently blessed and happy. Now, I know a lot of people don’t believe this, and they sure won’t experience it, because of their unbelief.
Notice, satan also has a plan for us. His thoughts and plans are to steal from us, kill us, and destroy us. Whose thoughts and plans will come to pass for you? …God’s or satan’s? If you are a child of God, there is no reason why satan’s desire should work against you. You have authority over him in Jesus’ name. At the same time, you will need to pray, inviting God’s perfect will into your life; obeying His will (His Word) for you.
Jesus said in Luke 22:31 (Amp.), “Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has asked excessively that [all of] you be given up to him [out of the power and keeping of God] that he might sift [all of] you like grain.” “Sift” means by inward agitation to try one’s faith to the verge of overthrow. Satan is attempting to sift us as well. He speaks his thoughts concerning our lives and circumstances to discourage and torment us. His plan is to overthrow us. Jesus says not only to Peter and the disciples but to us, “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not…” (KJ, v.32). We read in Heb. 7:25 (Amp.), “Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them.” Again, please notice, we must come to God through Jesus; first for the new birth and then for working out our salvation (Phil. 2:12); prayer and seeking at the throne of God in Jesus’ name.
The Lord has a purpose for you for 2012. I encourage you, “Pray and seek the Lord. Cast down satan’s thoughts in Jesus’ name and let your every thought be in line with God’s thoughts (His Word) (2 Cor.10:4&5). Then you will know “abundant life” for 2012. Amen!”