How to Tell if You’re Missing God’s Plan for Your Life
TODAY'S TEACHING
Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.
—Psalm 38:9
God promises in His Word that if we delight ourselves in Him, He will give us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4).
I remember a time in my life when this promise seemed like something far off, out of reach.
I was busy striving, chasing after what I thought I wanted, but it was never enough.
I’d prayed for certain things, thinking they would bring me peace, only to find that they left me feeling frustrated and unfulfilled.
I had yet to truly understand what it meant to delight in God.
Not just in what He could give me, but in who He is.
Years ago, I was deep in the grind of ministry, convinced that the most important thing was to serve God through my work.
I poured myself into it, thinking if I just worked hard enough, God would bless me with all the desires of my heart.
But over time, I began to feel something missing.
I was getting results in ministry, but my relationship with God was suffering.
One morning, after an especially exhausting season, I took a step back and realized I’d been so focused on my work for God that I had forgotten to prioritize my time with Him.
It was a wake-up call.
I had to learn that it wasn’t just about serving God.
It was about knowing Him deeply and allowing Him to work in me.
I know you can relate.
Life can pull us in a thousand directions, and it’s easy to think that our worth and our purpose lie in what we achieve, what we do, or what we have.
But are we really keeping our desires in balance?
Are we still seeking God first above all else, or have we let our goals and ambitions take the lead?
I’ve had to adjust my own heart many times, reminding myself that God is the center of everything, and without Him, nothing else matters.
There’s one thing I’ve learned: if you’re feeling a little off track, don’t beat yourself up.
It’s all part of the process.
Simply take a moment to refocus and remind yourself of what truly matters... God Himself.
Lay your desires before Him, trust Him to remove any that don’t align with His will for your life, and rest in the peace that comes from knowing He’s in control.
Not every desire we have is from God, and not every prayer will be answered the way we expect.
But I’ve found that the desires He does fulfill are always better than anything I could’ve dreamed up on my own.
I remember once praying for a specific opportunity, believing it was the answer to my prayers.
When it didn’t come through, I was disappointed.
But looking back now, I see that God had something better in mind.
A door that led to a richer experience, more aligned with His purpose for me.
At the time, I couldn’t see it, but now I’m grateful for His “no,” because it opened the way for something far greater.
So if you’re waiting, wondering why things haven’t worked out the way you planned, take a breath and relax.
Delight yourself in God, trust His timing, and let Him take care of the rest.
His plans for you are always better than anything you could come up with on your own.
Always better.
If this resonates with you, here's a short prayer you can say today:
"Dear God, sometimes I feel like I’m walking in circles, unsure if I’m really on the path You’ve set for me. Help me to see if I’ve strayed off course, and give me the wisdom to recognize when my desires are pulling me away from Your will. Show me the quiet signs that I’m not in alignment with Your perfect plan, and help me to trust You enough to let go and follow Your lead. Guide me back to Your purpose, Lord, and let me rest in the assurance that You are always directing my steps. Amen."
God bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Daniel
DailyEffectivePrayer.org
P.S. - Thank you for allowing me to connect with you through email. If you ever want to UNSUBSCRIBE you can do so at the bottom of any of my emails - no questions asked. God bless you.
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DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS
1. Are we as Believers truly trusting God to move the mountains in our lives, or are we trying to handle them on our own?
We’ve all been there, standing in front of that giant mountain, trying to push it aside with our own strength. But here’s the truth: we can’t move it without God. It’s like trying to move a boulder by ourselves. No matter how hard we push, it won’t budge. We need to stop relying on our own abilities and start leaning into God’s strength. When we trust Him fully, He’ll move mountains we couldn’t even dream of moving.
2. Do Christians believe that God’s plans for us are greater than our own, even when His timing doesn’t match our expectations?
It’s tough, isn’t it? We’ve all got dreams and desires, and sometimes God’s timeline feels so different from ours. But what we need to remember is that God sees the whole picture, while we only see a small piece. Trusting His plan means trusting His timing, even when it feels like we’re stuck in a waiting room. We can’t rush what He’s doing in our lives. His plans are always bigger and better than anything we could’ve come up with ourselves.
3. Are we keeping our focus on God’s will, or are we getting distracted by our desires and goals?
It’s so easy to get caught up in what we want—career goals, relationships, success—but we need to remember what matters most: God’s will. When we chase after our own plans, we can quickly lose sight of what He’s calling us to do. Think of it like driving with our eyes fixed on the road ahead, but suddenly getting distracted by everything around us. We might end up off course. If we keep our focus on God’s will, He’ll guide us where we need to go, even when the road gets bumpy.
4. How can we as Christians deepen our faith and prayer life to better align with God’s power to move obstacles in our path?
Prayer isn’t just a list of requests. It’s a conversation with God. The more we spend time with Him, the more we understand His heart, and the stronger our faith becomes. Think of it like building a muscle. When we pray and trust Him daily, our faith grows stronger. It’s not about having all the answers, but about knowing that God is with us every step of the way. The more we rely on Him in prayer, the more we’ll see His power working in our lives.
5. Are we letting go of control, trusting that God will remove any barriers that aren’t part of His perfect plan for us?
Let’s face it, we all like to have control, don’t we? But sometimes, holding on too tightly to our plans can keep us from God’s best. It’s like trying to hold onto a rope that’s pulling us in a different direction. We need to let go and trust that God knows where He’s leading us. When we surrender control and trust Him, He’ll remove the barriers that are in our way... whether we see them or not. His plans for us are always better than our own.
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SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
—Psalm 37:6-7
