word of encouragement
word of encouragement word of encouragement
For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. [Jeremiah 29:11 – The Message Bible] I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. [Jeremiah 29:11 – The Message Bible] Donna Williams-Ross
In Trust Ministries dwilliamsross@aol.com
“Happy New Year to you and yours”. Welcome in 2013. You are here on planet earth by divine assignment and appointment. Many hoped to enter into 2013 to witness the marvelous things God has planned for His people, but did not survive. It is not a mistake that while others died, God predestined for you to be here to see His glory manifested more rapidly in the earth. Some of you survived harsh realities, sickness, foreclosures, depression, being pushed to the back, tornadoes, wild fires, etc., but God kept you because of the plans that He has for you. You may not see the plans evident right now that God has ordained for you, but if you can hold fast to His promises, if you can begin to work His principles and not yours, you will begin to see the manifestation of what God has predestined for you before the foundation of the world. God plans for you have not changed. It may not happen when you have purposed for it to happen, but know for a fact that God has not changed His mind about the promises that He has placed in His word. Neither has He changed His mind about the promises that He has spoken to you individually in your intimate time alone with Him. The man at the Gate Beautiful experienced the plan that God had for him. It didn’t happen at his birth – for he was born crippled, but that day when God destined for it to be – no one could have stopped it. “One day at three o’clock in the afternoon, Peter and John were on their way into the Temple for prayer meeting. At the same time there was a man crippled from birth being carried up. Every day he was set down at the Temple gate, the one named Beautiful, to beg from those going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter the Temple, he asked for a handout. Peter, with John at his side, looked him straight in the eye and said, “Look here.” He looked up, expecting to get something from them. Peter said, “I don’t have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” He grabbed him by the right hand and pulled him up. In an instant his feet and ankles became firm. He jumped to his feet and walked. The man went 46 January January2013 2013| |Grace&Glory Grace&Glory 46
into the Temple with them, walking back and forth, dancing and praising God. Everybody there saw him walking around and praising God. They recognized him as the one who sat begging at the Temple’s Gate Beautiful and rubbed their eyes, astonished, scarcely believing what they were seeing. The man threw his arms around Peter and John, ecstatic. All the people ran up to where they were at Solomon’s Porch to see it for themselves.” (Acts 3:1-11 – The Message Bible) Here was the man at the Gate Beautiful, crippled from birth begging and expecting alms of everyone that came to the temple. The beggar was not asking to be healed, he was asking for alms, but got much, much more than he was asking for. With God, you will always get more than you ask or expect of Him. His plan was a monetary hand out, but God’s plan was healing – life and life more abundantly. It is the same with you, when you least expect it, when you may be asking for less than God’s best, God will show up in 2013 and allow the plans that He has for you to be manifested. It did not matter whether or not others believe that God will come through for you – as you stay focused on the plans and promises of God and not be moved by what it looks like, God’s plans will come to pass in your life. It may come at a time least expected, but know for a fact that God’s plans for you in 2013 will come to pass because the vision God has given to you is yet for an appointed time and then it will speak and shall not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it for God cannot lie and neither can the promises He made to you. I encourage you to trust in God’s words, knowing that the plans He has for you will begin to manifest. I encourage you to understand that it is your belief in God’s words that will bring His plans to past in your life. Prayer: Father, in the Name of Jesus, I thank You for giving me another year to see the plans and promises that you have for me to come to past. I look forward to them with much anticipation, amen. www.gracenglorymagazine.org www.gracenglorymagazine.org 45 45