God is the best planner

No matter how uncertain the time is , we all have a desire and an urge to plan for our future. As a human being, our ability to think and contemplate over the facts as to what is good or bad for us provide us choices, options as well as the motivation to plan for a better future. There are also times and moments when things don’t turn out the way we want them to. Even though, we did our best and opted the best route to reach our destination, one move along the way could erupt our plan.

As, I read the Bible this morning, I came across this verse: “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. Jermiah 29:11. The word of God keeps reminding us as to how we have to maintain our trust and faith in His works and will that is alwasy good for us. There are many instances in my life when I planned for something and I worked hard to the extent that that I knew that I would get it. However, it was not the will of God. As a result, I was unable to accomplish what I wanted to. To be honest, I was upset and angry. I prayed and asked God why I was not successful. God pointed me towards this verse: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8.

After finding this answer, I changed the pattern of my prayer and instead of saying that God I want this, I began asking, God show me and lead me to the path that you have set for me. I am not saying that we have to change our goals or plans, if we fail. The premise of my point for God to show me His way was when I did not succeed in what I wanted to accomplish. It happens to me and I am sure it happens to most of us when we least expect it. In all my years of my faith and trust in Lord Jesus Christ, I have witnessed and seen His hand and might in the toughest battles I fought and, His glory in my accomplishments.

Regardless of what happens around us, we have to remember that God’s hand is powerful to provide us shelter and, He is a beacon of hope when time is not right and things are against us. We have to trust in his plan and remember that God is the best planner. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. ” Romans 8:28.

A testimony

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I am happy and thankful to God that finally its a weekend. I dont know for some reason-ever since my husband is out of town for work-last week has been the longest and the toughest one. Longest in terms of work and the toughest in terms of what I encountered and has transformed into the testimony.

It was dark outside on Thursday, January 31 when I took Gus, my dog  for a walk before I left for work. Its my routine every day to take Gus out in the morning, if my husband is not home.  I usually take Gus out around 5:30 am. It was another day and another morning. I said prayer and getting ready to take Gus out.

Born and raised in a family, where the morning starts by reading the word of God, and saying prayer before leaving the house has  been my daily routine ever since I personally started reading The Holy Bible, and saying my personal prayer.

I took Gus out and since the dog park is right infront of the apartment, I dont lock the door and don’t take my cell phone with me sometimes, and it was that day when I not only forgot to take my phone with me, but apartment was unlocked as well. Keeping in mind the proximity of the park to the apartment, I could easily keep my eyes on the apartment.

As Gus was running around the apartment, I saw two young girls in their early 20s entering from the parking lot of the apartment. The girls’s demeanor and their actions caught my attention from the minute they entered the vicinity area of the dog park. One of the girls approached Gus ignoring me as if I didn’t exist there. I called Gus to come to me.

Gus is always excited in the morning, and he started running again keeping his eyes on the girls. As those girls started walking farther, one of them took the cell phone out and started taking walking on the patios, started taking pictures of the patios, and trying to peek inside apartments through windows’ blinds.

The suspicion I had of those girls turned into conviction that they were up to something. I immediately called Gus so that we could walk towards the apartment considering I had no phone, and the apartment was unlocked.

After few seconds a guy joined the girls on the bike, and then they were then three people. Usually there were other resident out that time, but no body was out that day.

I saw the guy and I got even more scared.  I didn’t know what to do . I was not planning to run. The best strategy I thought was to walk slow, and not to give them the impression that I was intimidated by their presence.

Before all these thoughts came to my mind, I used my lifeline. I started praying out loud. I dont know if they could hear me, but I said a small prayer that in the name of Jesus those people won’t approach me. I said God you know my situation. I have nothing, I just have you, please protect me.

As I was praying, I started walking towards the apartment. I had that fear that they would enter my apartment since it was unlocked. I was just 10 steps away from them while  walking at a slow pace. God gave me so much strength and courage to walk. I didn’t stagger or stop for a while. Gus sensed that I was scared, he started walking at my pace.

Those girls and a guy never looked at me once. Its just as if God blinded their eyes. They were still walking on the patios and trying to peek inside the windows. When they were walking by my apartment, they didnt even stop for a second or minute. They just left. As they were leaving, I hurriedly entered my apartment and called 911.

Gus was scared and he was observing my moments. I decided to go to the office. As much scared and confused as I was of all that happening, I didn’t want to call off. I just throught it was not appropriate to call off at the eleventh hour.  As I was leaving for office, I saw the officers talking to the girls, but I didn’t see the guy.

The next day, I called officer who was questiong the girls to find out what happened, and that I didn’t see the guy who was with girls. The officer told me that they had arrested one of the girls, but they couldn’t find the guy.

Afterwards, I started telling neighbors and told them what happened. Few of them said I was brave. I said I was not brave, it was my God who gave me that strenght.

I called my husband and I was crying. I told him miracles do happen and it happend for me today.

Those three people could have done anything to me considering I had no phone, and it was dark and nobody else was beside me. I was forgetting that I was not alone. How could I forget that I had the one who is everywhere, the one who is stronger and greater than all my thoughts, fears, confusion and perception. I had the one beside me who stood in the fire with Daniel and saved him in the lion’s den, I had the one beside me who was with Joseph when he was abandoned by his own family, I had the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob beside me, and the name of Jesus infront of him no power of evil can stand.

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 .

God wanted to show me that He is far ahead in His strategy and that those who trust in Him are like mount zion which can’t be shaken. He also wanted to show me that He is my help and my redeemer.

“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11.

That incident also reminded me the importance of the technology that humans are able to create with the wisdom that God has provided. Now, I always carry my phone with me no matter whether I am leaving for a minute or for five minutes.

It is a rational thinking to have all kinds of security measures to secure ourselves. But, final authority rests with God. “Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain.” Psalm 127:1.

Psalm 121:1-2 portrays it like this:

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

The reason of my sharing this testimony is to glorify the name of my savior Jesus Christ. All glory and praise to His name who made it possible that I can share this with you.

“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” Psalm 118:8