It has been a really long time since the last time I started my day with prayer and the reading of the Bible. I honestly cannot remember the last time I tried to do something like this. But lets try to move forward, shall we. I don’t want to dwell on the past. I’ve chosen to focus on the present and future. Sure, there are still numerous challenges that I need to face and overcome. This is not to ignore those challenges, rather, in spite of them, I’ve chosen to set aside time every day to seek God and to rely on His infinite wisdom, understanding, grace and strength. I understand that without Him, I will always be limited in what I can do. With all that is going on right now, I need Him more than ever.

For today’s daily bread, I was brought to Matthew 1: v1-17:

I wanted to begin this new series of My Daily Bread entries by revisiting the Gospels, and that starts with the Book of Matthew. Within the opening verses, we are being introduced to Jesus’ genealogy. As I read the list of “father-son” relationships right down to Jesus, I imagined that along the way, many of them must have had doubts on their minds at some point. They must have wondered at some point, “What is God’s real plan and purpose for me?” But ofcourse, Jesus isn’t the only plan and purpose that God had for them. It might be the “ultimate purpose” in the grand scheme of things, but God also had other plans and purpose for them.

I am pretty sure that as human beings, they must’ve experienced doubts just like I did. Even though I’ve been spending years seeking His purpose and will for my life, and yes, I like to think that over the years, He did revealed a few small pieces of that plan to me; but that doesn’t make the journey any less challenging. There were days and periods of time when I still wondered if I was really on the right path. There was so much self-doubt along the way.

To put everything into better context, the personal struggles and sacrifices I had to make in recent years have made me doubt if I was really on the right path. It’s kinda hard to see that all the suffering and sacrifices can lead to anything positive. It’s frankly just…suffering at times.

And then I was reminded of the story of Job. Even though the devil was allowed to take everything away from him, he never once doubted God. Wait, did he? I mean, the bible isn’t that clear about that. All we know is that Job did suffer, a lot. Perhaps even more than I can ever imagine (if it were true). But hey, I’m sure at some point, Job must have had some doubts right? It is in spite of those doubts that he also had faith in God. I like to think that that is what he experienced.

Did you think Job had doubts at some point during all of his sufferings? Share with me in the comments section.

We Can Never Know His Whole Plan/Purpose for Us

Going back to our topic today, I feel reminded that as we try to lead our daily lives the best way we can, we can never fully comprehend the entire plan and purpose that God has for our lives. Trying to understand it, or to figure out the different pieces of His grand plan will only make our heads explode.

Proverbs 3: v5-8 reminds us of that. The best thing that you and I can do, is to trust that God always wants what is best for us. Even if we cannot see the whole plan of His. It’s about learning to trust that He will never lead us astray.

With each day, we should be praying and asking Him for His wisdom and guidance. To help show us the way, the steps that we need to take in order to remain in His will for our lives. We can always have the most well-laid plans of our own, but that doesn’t mean that it is the best-laid plans, at least not according to God’s standards.

Yes, we ought to plan and not lead aimless lives. But we must also know how to be flexible and agile, and let the Holy Spirit lead us towards something better.

Personal Prayer for Today

Dear Heavenly Father,

I come before you today, acknowledging that I don’t know Your entire plan and purpose for me.

But it is also not my part to try to understand the entirety of your plans and purpose for my life.

I am here, to keep trusting that You, in Your infinite wisdom will never lead me astray.

I continue to trust that in spite of my most well-laid plans, that You always know what is best for me, and the steps that I should be taking next.

I trust that You will continue to lead me forward, each and every day.

In spite of my occasional doubts, I remain thankful that You have given me reasons/reminders to trust in You.

I vow to give You all the praise. In Jesus name.

Amen.