“Risikili”
– Part 2 – Your eyes saw my substance, yet unformed.
(Read it, study it, know it, live it.)
In my “Risikili” - Part 1 post,
we considered questions dealing with God having a divine plan for each of us. We
looked at Jeremiah 1:5, citing God’s plan for Jeremiah to be a prophet, when he
was yet unborn.
We indicated that our own
plan is shabby when compared to that of our Creator. We noted that even Satan
has a plan− and we’re in it. We looked back at Eve, falling for the deceptive
plan Satan devised for her. Then Adam followed suit. In falling for Satan’s
plan, Adam and Eve forfeited the divine destiny God had planned for them.
Mankind and the earth itself still suffer consequences resulting from their
disobedience.
Let’s look, for a moment, at
the reality that Satan exists and is capable of wreaking havoc in our lives,
capsizing God’s plan for us. Please know, it’s not my habit to talk much about
or dwell on the devil. But when discussing God’s plan for an individual and in
seeking to not miss it, he must be exposed, “lest Satan should take advantage of us; for
we are not ignorant of his devices,” stated Jesus Himself (2 Corinthians
2:11).
Satan
is deceptive and is the father of lies (John 8:44). In John 10:10 Jesus talked
about a thief wanting to deceive God’s people. Satan does much the same thing.
Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to
steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and
that they may have it more abundantly.”
Satan is
a thief and the enemy of God. He hates and wants to destroy anything that God
loves. Anyone who is the enemy of God is
also the enemy of God’s sons and daughters. Satan hates God, therefore he hates
those of us who are Christians. We can rest assured that he wants to steal us,
if he can. If he can’t do that, then he wants to kill us. If that doesn’t work
for him, he wants to destroy us.
When a person is born-again, he or she moves from Satan’s kingdom into God’s Kingdom and becomes a
child of God rather than a child of the devil. If Satan cannot have a person’s
soul, he then alters his plan from taking their soul to taking their life− that is
to literally kill him/her or to rob him/her of the abundant life their Heavenly Father
wants to give each of His children.
Satan also loves to rob a
person of his or her testimony. That is to tempt and/or influence believers,
hoping they’ll fail to walk in God’s ways, fall into sin, and consequently lose
their godly influence on others. Their testimony is hindered or even destroyed
and they're no longer an effective witness for Christ. We all know that it is
much harder to regain a good reputation that has been damaged than it is to
damage a clean reputation. A tarnished image can render an ineffective
testimony.
Before
going further, let’s look at the definition of abundant, in Greek. Strong’s
#4053, “peissos,” means
“Superabundant, excessive, over flowing, surplus.” Thayer’s Greek English
Lexicon of the New Testament adds to Strong’s definition, “super
added,” “beyond measure,” “exceedingly abundantly.” WOW!
These are words that God plans and wants us to be able to use to
describe our lives! The recipe for this life of abundance is to give our hearts
and lives to Christ Jesus and then to know His Word and to do it− you know Risikili!
God’s Word is given to us to light our way to and through the abundant
life.
I am
not saying that being a believer immunizes one from problems and trials. Jesus said: “These things I have spoken to
you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but
be of good cheer, I have overcome the world,” (John 16:33). In
other words, we're all guaranteed trials, but we believers have the hope and
confidence that Christ, who dwells in us, has overcome them all. Therefore we
have the means within to overcome all negatives that come our way.
Remember,
before we were born, God designed a plan for each of us. He gave His Word to
show us the way and illuminate the path. As long as we do things His way that
plan will unfold before our eyes and walk us right up to the gates of Heaven.
At that moment, all trials, illnesses, hardships will be forgotten. For we will
see Jesus face to face and unimaginable glory will be our reality for all
eternity.
For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
Remember,
before we were born, God designed a plan for each of us. He gave His Word to
show us the way and illuminate the path. As long as we do things His way that
plan will unfold before our eyes and walk us right up to the gates of Heaven.
At that moment, all trials, illnesses, hardships will be forgotten. For we will
see Jesus face to face and unimaginable glory will be our reality for all
eternity.
Let’s
pray together: Heavenly Father, please
help me realize You really do have a plan for me− And it is for my good. As I
spend time getting to know You, I’m confident You’ll reveal it to me and help
me accomplish it. As I get to know You better, through prayer and reading and
studying Your Word, I’ll trust You more and more. As I walk with Jesus, Your
Son, my Savior, it will come to pass in my life. With a grateful heart, I pray
in Jesus name − Amen.
For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
17 How
precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them! Psalm 139:13-17
How great is the sum of them! Psalm 139:13-17
Click
on the link below to view Michael W. Smith recite Psalm 139
in
one of his concerts. He then sings Thy
Word.
