3 Truths about God’s Plan for You

Most people I know would like to know God’s plan for their life. They’d like to know that they’re in the center of his proverbial will. Often our peace with that truth is tied to whether we like the circumstances God has chosen for us or not. The apostle Paul’s life stands as a great reminder that God’s will for each of us should be embraced even if the circumstances are not of our choosing.

God’s plan for you will include suffering, but when it does, you won’t be alone.

Immediately following Paul’s conversion, God sent him a message through Ananias. God said, “He is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name to Gentiles and kings (Acts 9:15)…For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (Acts 9:16). The first part of the message sounds pretty good, but the second part? Not so much. Paul’s circumstances reveal what all of us come to know sooner or later: suffering is a part of each of our lives. Physical and emotional pain combined with societal rejection mark Paul’s life as a Christian (2 Cor. 11:23-27). Yet, his final words in 2 Timothy offer the hope. He writes, “At my first defense no one stood by me…But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me (2 Tim. 4:16-17)

God’s plan for you may include promotion, but when it does, its about his providence more than your performance.

Paul goes from a persecutor of the church, to an apostle for the church nearly overnight (2 Tim. 1:1). That’s a radical transformation for Paul to experience, and for his followers to accept (1 Cor. 11:1). Yet, through it all, Paul maintains that he is the chief of sinners. He declares, “This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all” (1 Tim. 1:15, NLT).

If we learn anything from Paul’s grace-filled teaching throughout his letters, we learn that he refuses to take the credit for any promotion God grants him. The word “providence” sounds like the word provision. God is the one who provides the time, talents, resources, and connections that bring about any promotion you experience. James declared, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (Jam. 1:17). Work hard at your craft and faithfully steward your opportunities, but never forget God is the one doing the promoting (1 Cor. 4:2).

God’s plan for you will include times of uncertainty, but when it does, God is still working.

The Bible aptly describes us as sheep; we are prone to get a little anxious when we can’t see the greener pastures. When, through Jesus, you become a God-follower, your final destination–heaven–becomes a promised certainty (John 14:6). But, the road to get there is often filled with uncertainty. “Did I make the right decision?” “Is this what God wants for me?” “Why is this so difficult?” Whom among us hasn’t pondered those questions in our day-to-day journey.

Paul started out with Silas on his second missionary journey with a passion to share the gospel. Remarkably, as they passed through Phrygia, Galatia and Asia the Spirit did not allow them to speak (Acts 16:6-10). Together, they would trek nearly 1,000 miles, before they received a visionary call to cross over the Aegean Sea, and preach the gospel in Macedonia. I wonder when the questions started gathering? “Did we hear God right?” “Why can’t we share the Gospel with those in Asia?” “How much further must we travel?” Yet, while they kept walking through those moments of uncertainty, God was still working–preparing the hearts of those in other cities. Cities to which such Biblical letters would be written as Philippians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Corinthians, and Ephesians.

While Paul’s missionary journey was filled with uncertainty, God was still working. And that’s often how he works in our lives too. We start out on the journey, while God simultaneously is providentially working in others lives preparing the way for us.

Whether this year is filled with promotion, suffering or uncertainty you can be confident that the one who planned the journey for you was never planning on you traveling alone.

PHIL MOSER is the author of the Biblical Strategies series and the developer of 4M Training: a 13-week small group study for men. All of his resources are found on amazon or at biblicalstrategies.com. Consider booking Phil for your next conference or retreat.

3 Essential Questions for the Decade Ahead

Its not every day you get a chance to start a new decade. Three verses in Ephesians invoke three essential questions for the decade ahead.

(1) Do I waste my time?

“So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise” (Eph. 5:15, NLT).

Years ago, a wise counselor encouraged me to keep a journal of my time and record what I did every 15 minutes for a period of two weeks. I argued at first, reasoning I didn’t have the time to do that. But in the end, I found it a most helpful process. I call it doing a use-of-time-audit. Before you can make changes on how you spend your time, you’re going to need to know how you presently waste it.

In an earlier book, I had written, “Most procrastinators operate without personal accountability for their time. While they may admit to having not planned properly, they usually are unaware of how they spent their time. The word “carefully” is translated in other biblical passages “closely, exactly, accurately.” It brings to mind and analytical evaluation, one that focuses on the details, not the generalities” (Taking Back Time: biblical strategies for overcoming procrastination).

 (2) Do I spend my time wisely?

“
making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16, ESV)

After you begin to capture your wasted time, you need to wisely reinvest it.

The Greek word (kairós) behind our English word “time” in verse 16, provokes this helpful question. One writer has said, “Kairós (time) is not merely as a succession of minutes, which is chrónos (time), but a period of opportunity (though not necessity). There is really no English equivalent to the word kairós, meaning appropriate or opportune time” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary by Spiros Zodhiates)

Windows of opportunity don’t remain open forever. In fact, they often have a very short shelf life.  Wisdom helps us determine the difference between good, better and best. We don’t simply attempt to jam more in the schedule (chrĂłnos—time), but rather to be prepared to spend the valuable resource of time on the best opportunity (kairĂłs—time).

(3) Do I daily do the will of God?

“Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17, ESV).

Often, we think of the will of God only when it comes to major decisions. Things like marriage, family, home purchases and career choices come to mind. But the word “understand” is in the present tense; meaning we should attempt to understand the will of God each day. Decisions made in the past or those looming in the future are outside of our control. But we can be more responsible with the day in which we live.

Once you’ve cleaned up your wasted time and begun to spend wisely, you should always ask, “What does God want me to do with my time today?” Four hundred years ago, Sir Francis Bacon noted, “Begin doing what you want to now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand—and melting like a snow-flake.”

PHIL MOSER is the author of the Biblical Strategies series and the developer of 4M Training: a 13-week small group study for men. All of his resources are found on amazon or at biblicalstrategies.com. Consider booking Phil for your next conference or retreat.

The little boy king

A musical Christmas card to remember Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection this Christmas. In all of our festivities, may we pause to commemorate the great sacrifice of Christmas.

Lessons learned from the nativity display

One of my earliest childhood memories of Christmas was the nativity displays. The cardboard-punch-outs, the fragile ceramic figures, the hobbit-sized yard displays fueled my creativity as a child. Prior to i Pads and x boxes, I imagined what the Christmas characters thought. From the unspeakable joy of the shepherds to the camel-sore wise men, these figures represented real people in real time.

Remember it’s a true story

Remember, the birth of Jesus is not simply a list of facts, but a story with real characters that experienced real emotion and wrestled with real decisions. A professor of mine once quipped that “a good commentary on the Scriptures is your sanctified imagination.” When I read the narratives of Scripture, I find it helpful to try to imagine what the real life characters of Scripture must have been thinking.

Invite others to tell the story

Here’s an effective Christmas lesson, applicable for all ages. Take a nativity set, pass out the characters, and ask your group to share what they would have thought, if they had they been called to be the figure that they are holding.  Like a diamond turned in the light, each time I’ve done this with a group, I’ve discovered another facet of the story. Something I’d not noticed before.

This Christmas, step away from your party preparation and shopping lists long enough to only imagine


PHIL MOSER is the author of the Biblical Strategies series and the developer of 4M Training: a 13-week small group study for men. All of his resources are found on amazon or at biblicalstrategies.com.

If you’re looking for a resource for your men’s group, consider 4M Training. In 13 weeks you’ll learn to Mature in your faith, Master key habits, Minister to one another, and Mentor the next generation. Click on image below to learn more.

When you’re in a hurry God is not.

Christmas shopping

December is a month when it seems like everyone is in a hurry. It’s easy for us to get caught up in the rush. Christmas concerts. Office parties. Last minute shopping. Suddenly, December’s over and we start the new year…exhausted. Have you noticed that God doesn’t seem to be in a hurry? He may take 40 days or 40 years. In God’s timetable there are no rush orders.

Christmas shopping

Taking time embraces the providence of God.

Take Moses for instance. Few Old Testament saints measure up to this man. He scores well in  character, leadership, and humility. God and he were on a first name basis. And yet, even Moses didn’t get there overnight. 

Early in his life, he tried to free the Hebrews in a hurry.  He was a born leader and anxious to get to it. In an attempt to speed up God’s timetable, he killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew. But God wasn’t in a hurry. In fact, he had him spend the 40 years of his life in the desert leading sheep in preparation for leading people.

Taking time allows pride to turn to humility.

God took time with Moses, and we should expect him to take time with us. In Moses’s life, God wanted to to remove the arrogant leadership style that Moses had picked up in  Pharaoh’s household. Forty years of preparatory shepherding wasn’t too short or too long–it was just right. During that time he learned the ways of the desert. He would later spend another forty years of his life in the desert, but leading people not sheep. Two million to be exact! God took time to teach him the ways of the desert. At the same time, he also taught him the ways of humility.

To go from growing up in Pharaoh’s household to the nomadic lifestyle of a shepherd didn’t look like a brilliant career move. But God wanted Moses’ humility more than He needed his ability. He was more interested in Moses’ development than in his immediate accomplishment.

Which brings to mind an interesting thought: Perhaps the reason God isn’t in a hurry is because we are. And character traits like humility will always take time to develop.

PHIL MOSER is the author of the Biblical Strategies series and the developer of 4M Training: a 13-week small group study for men. All of his resources can be found on amazon or at biblicalstrategies.com.

If you’re looking for a resource for your men’s group, consider 4M Training. In 13 weeks you’ll learn to Mature in your faith, Master key habits, Minister to one another, and Mentor the next generation. Click on image below to learn more.

Thanksgiving–making my list and checking it twice

Christmas is usually the time we think about making our list and checking it twice. But as I woke up this Thanksgiving morning, I began to think about my Thanksgiving list. No, not the last minute list of things to grab at the grocery, but the things in the last year that I’m truly thankful for.

I’m thankful for friends who have persevered through hard times.

Some of my friends this year have had a hard go of it. They lost a spouse or lost a parent. They lost their job or lost their health. While it’s been painful to watch them in their pain, its been encouraging to see them persevere.

Romans says, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope” (Romans 5:3-4).

I’ve gained courage to face my future–whatever it might be–by watching those who have persevered through their personal challenges.

I’m thankful for friends whose desire to learn inspires me to do likewise.

As we age, it’s easy for the learning process to slow down. We know more about our spouse than we did when we first got married, and we know more than enough to get by at our job. Why learn more? This year my friends have encouraged me to learn more because they knew more.

I built a tiny house with friends, and was amazed at their knowledge in the trade disciplines. I sat with an old friend who explained life goals and planning to me with an ease that made it seem possible. I spent time with a new believer, whose necessary dependence on the Lord caused him to read the Bible tirelessly. My friends’ desire to learn has inspired me to study more, discover more, and put into practice (what I know ) more.

I’m thankful for the friends I’ve yet to meet.

In making my Thanksgiving list and checking it twice, I realized that it contained many friends–both old and new. I’m equally thankful for both. It got me thinking: what about those friends you and I might meet during the upcoming year? If we slowed down long enough to hear their story what might we learn? If we engaged in new adventures with them how might we be inspired?

Jesus made sinners his friends (Mat. 11:19), Jesus even called Judas his friend (Mat. 26:50), and Jesus refers to us as his friends (John 15:14). This Thanksgiving I’m thankful for friends.

So many friends. So much for which to be thankful.

PHIL MOSER is the author of the Biblical Strategies series and the developer of 4M Training: a 13-week small group study for men. All of his resources can be found on amazon or at biblicalstrategies.com.

Try to assume God’s responsibilities and it’s a sure thing you’ll neglect your own

One of the common themes I’ve observed as a pastor is that people often fail to do what they should do, because they’re trying to do what only God can do. We are not equipped to carry out God’s role, but that doesn’t keep us from trying.  Here are some examples:

  • God sees the future; we can’t see it, so we worry instead (Psalm 139:16)
  • God knows a person’s inner desires and intentions; we can’t know them, so we develop a judgmental spirit questioning their motives (1 Corinthians 4:5).
  • God can change a heart; we can’t, but we try; we seek to control and manipulate others through our words and emotional responses (Ezekiel 36:26-27; Titus 3:5-6).

When we attempt to do God’s job we end up defaulting on our own. Look back at the emphasized words in the previous points. God told us not to worry (Phil. 4:6), not to judge the heart (1 Cor. 4:5), and not to control and manipulate others (2 Tim. 2:24-26). When we attempt to do what only God can do, we fail to do what he asks us to do. The Bible teaches we are totally inadequate to carry out God’s responsibilities (Romans 11:33-34).  This is why we not only do them poorly but complain because the burden is too great to bear.

This is prime territory for self-pity to grow, as God’s dialogue with Moses revealed (Num. 11). So how do we overcome this tendency? By trusting God with those less than desirable circumstances and believing that he can accomplish something purposeful through them (Romans 8:28).

This was a truth that carried Joseph through betrayal, slavery, false accusations, and nearly ten years in prison.  At the conclusion of his story he reminds his brothers, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Genesis 50:20)  Joseph had grown in contentment. He didn’t need his brother’s approval to feel successful. He found it easy to love them and forgive. He didn’t need pleasant surroundings or positive conditions. It’s not our circumstances that make us prone to self-pity; it’s our dissatisfaction with those circumstances. Self-pity takes root in the soil of discontentment.

PHIL MOSER is the author of the Biblical Strategies series and the developer of 4M Training: a 13-week small group study for men. All of his resources can be found on amazon or at biblicalstrategies.com.

If you’re looking for a resource for your men’s group, consider 4M Training. In 13 weeks you’ll learn to Mature in your faith, Master key habits, Minister to one another, and Mentor the next generation. Click on image below to learn more.

How fear makes it easy to procrastinate and what we can do about it

Procrastination is a man-made defense in response to fear. Perhaps you haven’t stated it that boldly yet, but whether you’re putting off a difficult project or a potential confrontation, there’s a good chance you’re afraid. Jesus reveals this truth when he tells the story of the three stewards. A steward is one who is given charge over certain assets by his master. He is not the owner of those assets, nor has he earned them. In the story, each steward was given responsibility for a sum of money that they were to invest wisely. In Jesus’ parable each steward was entrusted with certain talents by their master. The word talent describes the value of the assets with which they were entrusted. The three stewards were given 5 talents, 2 talents, and 1 talent respectively. In biblical language, a talent was a financial measurement and could be valued in silver or gold. A talent of silver was worth approximately $384,000 in modern US dollars; a talent of gold about $5,760,000. By the gold standard, the first was entrusted with 29 million dollars, the second 11.5 million dollars, and the third 5.75 million dollars. That’s a lot of somebody else’s money to be responsible for.

Stewards one and two invested the money wisely, doubled their investment, and fulfilled their master’s expectations. The master commended them for a job well done. But the third steward chose not to invest the talent. As hard as it is to believe, he took a shovel, walked into his back yard, dropped nearly six million dollars into a hole in the ground, and covered it up. He then returned to his home and waited for the master’s return. Don’t you want to jump into Jesus’ story, grab the unwise steward by the shoulders, shake him and shout, “What are you thinking?!  How can you bury six million dollars in your back yard?” But upon the master’s return, the one-talent steward told us what he was thinking. As we listen in, we will discover the hidden motivator behind our own struggle with procrastination. Here was his confession: Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours. Fear can be debilitating. It can freeze your thoughts, lock down your emotions, and paralyze your ability to choose. When it comes to procrastination, there are two elements in our fear that prevail—a sense of our inadequacy and the memory of past failed attempts.

A Sense of Inadequacy: This is too difficult. If you put it off, it will get easier.

When we put off today’s trouble because we feel inadequate, we often discover that the situation only becomes more difficult, not easier. The unwise steward claimed he was inadequate for the task. He believed his master’s standard was too high for his ability. Succumbing to fear, he put off his responsibility as a steward to invest the money. When we read the story, it is easy to empathize with the one-talent steward. We understand his fear. If we were entrusted with six million dollars, we’d feel inadequate too!

As a counselor, I’ve noticed often that when people are facing a task for which they feel inadequate, well-intentioned friends are prone to tell them that they can do it—they simply need to believe in themselves. These words, while meant for encouragement, can actually be quite dangerous. The Bible teaches that when you feel inadequate in your own strength or ability, it may actually be justified. Proverbs says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths”

When you do not feel up to the task to which God has called you, it should motivate you to trust in him more than you do in yourself. This is how you overcome your sense of inadequacy.

A memory of a past failure: Since you failed before, you will only fail again. Don’t try today.

Your past may be haunted with disappointments; personal failures may clutter your memory. Wherever there were breakdowns in your past, you’ll find it easy to procrastinate in your present. Your thoughts whisper: if you’ve failed before, you’ll only fail again. Our fear of repeated failure has barred the door to change. We wait for a motivation that never comes. Perhaps you have struggled in your past with maintaining a weight-loss program. You were motivated when you started and you saw some early success, but then you failed to keep up the regime. The weight came back on, discouragement crept in, and now you’ve lost the motivation to begin again. You don’t remember the brief successes, you just remember the feeling of failure. Better to put a smile on it, and act like it doesn’t bother you. You put off the notorious “first day” until tomorrow. After that, you put it off further, always looking for the motivation that never comes. To rediscover the motivation necessary to crawl back on the treadmill, you will need to address the fear of repeated failure.

The Bible says that “perfect love casts out fear.” I have always been fascinated by that verse. You would think that perfect courage, endurance, or bravery might be one of the best candidates to cast out fear, but the Holy Spirit chose perfect love. Our heavenly Father’s perfect love is best understood through the sacrifice of Jesus in our place. For the Bible says, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Often, because of past failures, a person is afraid to try. They aren’t motivated by “perfect love,” they are motivated by their own perfection. They refuse to try again unless they are guaranteed success. But whenever we worry about personal success our pride is at work. We don’t simply fear failure, we fear the humbling process that comes with it. It’s easier to say, “I’m going to start a weight loss program tomorrow” than to say, “I started one yesterday, but I couldn’t keep it up.” The first position is easier, because it doesn’t acknowledge our personal weakness. We admire humility in others, but we dislike the failure that brings it about in us. Failure forces us to admit that we lack the strength to accomplish our goals. Our pride is like an angry pit bull—aggressive, defensive, and never looking for help from others. This latter position, “I started a weight-loss program yesterday but couldn’t keep it up,” forces you to ask for help from God and from others.

If we will let personal failure accomplish its intended purpose, it will humble us, and we’ll ask for help next time. We won’t attempt to operate in our own wisdom; we’ll ask God for his. We’ll trust in him, not ourselves. This is the value of personal failure, and you can be certain that the devil and all of his angels don’t want you discovering it. They whisper the lie: Don’t ask for help. Just put this off until you have the strength of will to do it on your own.

Consider this: if you start today, what’s the worst thing that can happen? You fail, humble yourself, try again, and become a little bit more like Jesus in the process. But so often our nagging fear of failure prompts us to put off the things we’ve messed up in the past. Our fear of failure is fruitless because it doesn’t encourage planning; it offers unproductive waiting instead. The longer we put off the task we’ve failed at before, the harder it is to get started. We need to admit that we are weak and insecure. Left to our own, we would fail again. Such an understanding allows you to take a step forward by faith. You will never discover the motivation you lack by waiting to start. The one who is growing in faith acknowledges his past failures and trusts God with future endeavors. You go forward with a confidence in God’s perfect love, not your past achievements. That is how we get started when we tend to surrender to our fear and procrastinate instead.

Taken from Taking Back Time: biblical strategies for overcoming procrastination

PHIL MOSER is the author of the Biblical Strategies series and the developer of 4M Training: a 13-week small group study for men. All of his resources can be found on amazon or at biblicalstrategies.com.

If you’re looking for a resource for your men’s group, consider 4M Training. In 13 weeks you’ll learn to Mature in your faith, Master key habits, Minister to one another, and Mentor the next generation. Click on image below to learn more.

2 ways to develop contentment during times of difficulty

Contentment can sound like such a warm and inviting word, but the development of this valuable quality often grows out of the most difficult of circumstances. Consider two of Jesus’ most challenging times: his temptation in the wilderness and his submission in the garden of Gethsemane. He faces both, without even a whisper of complaint stirring across his soul.

Sometimes God withholds something from us, so that we might learn to long for something that’s better for us.

After 40 days of fasting in the wilderness, Jesus was hungry—really hungry. Satan’s temptation to turn the stone into bread was his slight-of-hand attempt that Jesus not learn the most from his stomach’s discontentment. Jesus response is priceless: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). The context of Jesus quotation is insightful. Moses writing to the second-generation Israelites reminded them of how God had worked with their parents. Of God, he said, “And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD” (Deut. 8:3). God “let them hunger” so that they might learn a valuable life-lesson: how to depend upon the Lord.  They chose instead a different approach: how to complain about the Lord’s provision. Jesus understood what the Old Testament Israelites did not. Sometimes God withholds something from us, so that we might learn to long for something that’s better for us.

Sometimes God asks us to do something we don’t want to do, so that he can accomplish what is best for others.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus is tested to surrender his will to his Father’s. Mark’s gospel gives us a brief insight into the prayer of Jesus. “And he said, ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will’” (Mark 14:36). God, in his divine wisdom, knows what’s best for others. Sometimes he uses our willingness to sacrifice to accomplish what is best in another’s life. We’re good at being the recipient of Christ’s sacrifice for us, but we’re not quite so skilled at making similar sacrifices for another person. Jesus teaches us how to make this sacrifice with 8 simple words: Abba, Father, all things are possible for you.

“Abba, Father” is a term of endearment—the Aramaic equivalent to our English word, “Daddy.” It’s the acknowledgement that Jesus knows his Father loves him (John 15:9). God wants what’s best for Jesus, and Jesus believes that. He adds, “All things are possible for you” to express his confidence that his Father isn’t powerless to do it another way if he would so choose. Jesus makes a request without complaint. He hems his request in by his Father’s love and his Father’s power. Without complaint, Jesus teaches us that sometimes God asks us to do something we don’t want to do, so that he can accomplish what is best for others.

PHIL MOSER is the author of the Biblical Strategies series and the developer of 4M Training: a 13-week small group study for men. All of his resources can be found on amazon or at biblicalstrategies.com.

If you’re looking for a resource for your men’s group, consider 4M Training. In 13 weeks you’ll learn to Mature in your faith, Master key habits, Minister to one another, and Mentor the next generation. Click on image below to learn more.