I want you to know today that I believe God has a good plan for your life and He knows exactly how to guide you to fulfill your divine purpose.
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV says, “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.”Those of us who love the Lord want His will—or His plan—in our lives. But when the storms of life start to attack us, or we don’t know where we’re going, it’s easy to think, God, what’s going on here? Am I still in Your will? Are You directing my steps?We’ve all asked those questions at one time or another. But Psalm 37:23-24 NIV says, If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him. No matter what you’re going through, God can lift you up and direct your steps!

YOU WILL BE TESTED

Nowhere does the Bible say that all things in your life will be good, because satan is in the world to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). But Romans 8:28 says that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.Just as the devil showed up to test Jesus in the wilderness, he wants to test you too. Satan knows that God’s plan for you is good. He knows that your steps are ordered of the Lord. He wants to destroy God’s plan for you because he knows you can make a difference in this world. Let’s look in the Bible at the story of Joseph. I believe his life illustrates six points that can help you fulfill God’s plan for your life.

1. Don’t share your dream with just anybody.
Joseph was a dreamer, and he made a mistake—he told his dreams to his brothers. He said, “I had a dream, and we were all out in a field gathering sheaves, and your sheaves bowed down to mine” (Genesis 37:7 paraphrased).Well, you can imagine what his brothers thought of that. Verse 8 says, They hated him even more.I believe you can’t share your dream with just anybody because many people won’t understand it. You have to make sure that when you do share your dream, the person you share it with knows your heart and where you’re coming from.You may be so filled up with your dream that you want to share it with everyone. But it’s better to hold on to it and keep it before the Lord. He’ll show you who you can share it with.
2. Learn to rise above your past.
I believe it’s possible to rise above negative things that come against you.You may say, “Richard, you don’t know the kind of family I come from. I have unsaved loved ones and unloved saved ones. You don’t know what I’ve been through!”Well, look at Joseph’s family. They were a bunch of cheaters and manipulators…and his father Jacob had stolen his own brother’s birthright.Even Joseph’s brothers threw him in a pit and then sold him! It would have been so easy for Joseph to blame them. And it would be so easy for you to blame your circumstances on something that happened to you in the past.There’s only one thing you can do with your past, and that is to give it to God. Joseph chose to forgive and forget, and like Joseph, you can make the choice to start trusting God, and rise above the situations you’ve gone through.
3. Man may forget you, but God never will.
Joseph’s brothers may have forgotten him, but God never did. When he was sold into slavery, Joseph must have thought, God, am I still in Your will? Are You still directing my steps?Genesis 39:3 says that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. No matter where Joseph went, God prospered him.You may not be where you want to be, but wherever you are, I believe God is with you. He’s bigger than anything you’re facing. He’ll never forget you!
4. Resist temptation when it comes.
When he served in Potiphar’s house, Joseph had one big problem: Potiphar’s wife. Genesis 39:7 says that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”But Joseph was a man of integrity. He probably thought, I’m not going to allow my witness to be compromised. People are watching me. And he resisted temptation.I have news for you: People are watching you to see if you are what you say you are. They’re looking for Christians who are real and don’t give in to temptation.James 4:7 says, Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Be like Joseph and resist the temptation to do wrong.
5. Don’t be discouraged by closed doors.
When a door closes in your life, don’t be discouraged—it may not have been the door God wanted you to walk through.When Joseph was in prison he helped interpret the dreams of the king’s baker and cupbearer. But even when he interpreted their dreams correctly and one of them was freed, Joseph was forgotten and left in prison for two more years.That door to freedom was closed, but Joseph refused to get discouraged. He kept believing that God would keep His promise. And one day the Pharaoh himself had a dream that Joseph was called upon to interpret. Joseph told the king the meaning of the dream, and the king elevated him to be second in command over all of Egypt!When famine came to Israel and Joseph’s family heard there was food in Egypt, his brothers traveled there to buy food. It was Joseph who was selling the food, but his brothers didn’t recognize him in his royal garb. The Bible says they bowed down before him (Genesis 42:6). Joseph’s dream had come to pass.Joseph could have told his family, “You can’t have any food. You threw me in a pit and wanted to kill me!” But he didn’t. Later he wept aloud and threw open his arms and said, “I’m Joseph, your brother! I’m the one you threw away, but I’m also the one who God’s going to use to save you” (Genesis 45:1-8 paraphrased).
6. Remember that God is in control.
Just like He had for Joseph, God has a plan for you. His plan is good, not evil. And I believe you’ll find His plan is much better than your plan.Right now you may feel like you’re in a pit or a prison. But remember, after the pit and the prison, there can be a palace waiting for you. So if it seems like the road is full of turns, remember that God is not lost. He knows where He’s going. And He has promised to guard and guide you every step of the way if you trust Him.Stay close to God for He has the map of your life firmly in hand. God is in control!