As a new summer approaches, I realize that this will be my 8th year on staff at camp. If you had known me prior to my first summer at camp, I would have been the last person you would have seen at any summer camp. But God’s plans are way different than our own. 

We all know the verse Jeremiah 29:11 that says “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.” Although we all know this verse, often times it’s hard for us to completely trust the fact that God has a perfect plan for our lives. As a result we try to do things out own way, and it usually turns out as a disaster.  If we want to walk on the path that God has planned for us, then there are a couple of things that we need to do.

1)    Identify yourself with Christ- To know where we are going we have to know who we are.

2)    Submit your whole self to God and trust Him

a)   James 4:7-8 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you

b)   Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him,
And He will make your paths straight and smooth

3)    Pray and spend time with God

a)   Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will so that you know the voice of the Holy Spirit.

4)    Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal it to you then listen and obey

a)   John 10:14-15; 27 I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father-and I lay down my life for the sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

b)   When we ask the Holy Spirit to reveal something to us, He will, and we have to listen.

i)      1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not quench [subdue, or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of] the [Holy] Spirit.

5)    Protect yourself from the words of others-

a)   1 Samuel 17:8-11 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me.  If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us."  Then the Philistine said, "This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other." On hearing the Philistine's words, Saul and all the Israelite's were dismayed and terrified.

i)      The Israelite's were intimidated by the words of Goliath they were not protecting themselves against his words they were "terrified"

Remember God has a plan for your life and it’s up to you to walk in His ways so you can fulfill it.  Never let the enemy knock you off track and distract you from all that God has planned for you!

<3 Pteri Ibis

If you would like to submit a devotional for Morning Watch Monday or have a topic you would like to see, contact Lorianne, loriannewalker7 [at] gmail.com