Memory Verse: “Now this is what the Lord says, the One who created you Jacob, and the One who formed you Israel. Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name, YOU ARE MINE. I will be with you when you pass through the waters and when you pass through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. You will not be scorched when you walk through the fire and the flame will not burn you.” Isaiah 43:1-3
Psalm 62
Task: Think of some of the plans that you had for your life that haven’t been actualized. Now counter those with what God has accomplished because that plan hasn’t come. (i.e. I thought I would be married by now, but because I’m NOT I have written ‘NOT Another Singles Book’, working on 3 more and started this Singles Movement)
God’s plan being best. How do we know this? How do we establish this? Do we even believe this. Our first natural, almost programmed answer is yes, but if we were to honestly evaluate our past decisions and situations, our answer may become a bit blurred.
I recently studied 2 Samuel for a workshop I was ministering. As preparing for this session, I was so encouraged in reading this book. I went back and intensively studied 1 Samuel as well, so that I could have a reference point for 2 Samuel. Following the path of David and his journey from anointment to appointment as King, and then his struggles and triumphs as King of a united Israel, gave me hope and insight into God’s plan for me. As a Single, many times we doubt or question God’s plan for us, and only the strong and/or transparent will admit that. I know I often spent countless nights praying, crying, snotting asking God ‘where did I go wrong?’ ‘’How did I get so off track- did I miss it or Him somewhere?” Only as recent as about 2-3 years ago, did I allow God to change my perspective. I say allow God to change my perspective, because He never gave me that idea in the first place. My friends, family, own insecurities and even sadly, church helped shape the view that as a Single I was missing out on something. I would read books, attend seminars, listen to sermons and they would all be geared towards ‘getting out’ of Singleness, but very few about what to do while in it. So in reading 2 Samuel I was encouraged through David’s life to further embrace His timing and his calling in this season.
2 Samuel opens with Saul being dead and David taking his rightful place on the throne. I want to briefly reference 1 Samuel. David was anointed around the age of 15-16 as King. 1 Samuel 16 is the story of David’s anointing and we know that story. Verse 1: How long will you mourn for Saul when I have rejected him. Isn’t this a word for Singles? We mourn past relationships, things we could have done differently, should have done differently, and spend so much valuable time wasted on what ‘could have been’, when God has another manifestation waiting for you. We will miss David in the fields, if we continue to focus on Saul in the palace. Although Saul still had the postion of King, he no longer had the anointment of King. That’ll PREACH!! How many times do we allow a relationship ‘Saul’ to sit on the throne of our hearts, when God’s spirit has left from it. Saul stayed in his position for at least 10-15 years after God’s spirit left. How long will you hold on to a past or current (ouch!) relationship and YOU KNOW God’s spirit is no longer blessing it?
It is so vital to understand when we are discussing God’s plan for our lives. We often think we know how our lives should pan out what we should do and how it needs to be done. But many times God has a different plan. We just have to take our eyes off of ours to see His.
So How do we get to God’s Plan:
- Seeking God’s Plan-
So in 2 Samuel David is King. If you know anything about David, he was a man after God’s heart. He sought God about every decision that he made- He not only sought God but He listened and then acted. How do we measure up to this standard? I believe we will often ask God for forgiveness instead of asking for permission. We will ask Him as Balaam did in Numbers 22, already knowing what we want Him to say. But God is looking for some people that will seek Him as Jeremiah says in 29:12 You will call to me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. I will be found by you.’ God is waiting for you to seek Him first, and all these things will be added to you Matthew 6:33- but it’s so hard to seek Him and not worry about the things that we want added to us.
God’s plan will take time to seek. For some it may come quickly- God told Noah to build the Ark, Moses to lead the people out of Egypt, Joshua to walk around the walls of Jericho. Divine guidance only comes to prepared hearts. You have to spend the time with God asking for His plan and will for your life. He wants to fulfill it.
- Seeing/Hearing God’s Plan
As David sought the Lord, you must do the same. Habakkuk 2: 2-4 talks about climbing up to the watchtower to see what God would say. How do you see what God says? God will reveal Himself to you in vision. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. It’s hard to see God at work when you are going through the situation, but if you can just take your eyes off self- vision will come. Go back to the top and read Isaiah 4:1-3 He created you Jacob, but He formed you Israel. What does this mean? That where you start is not where you will finish. Jacob was a trickster, but Israel is God’s chosen nation. Jacob was created in his mother’s womb, Israel was formed through the shaping of God’s hands. Meaning, the situations that you are going through aren’t meant to break you, but are forming you into God’s perfect image of you. Don’t get so focused on how you THINK He will bring it to pass, that you miss how He does bring it to past.
God told David that He would bless his life and the life of his descendants but He did not tell him that he would face His own son trying to take his throne, civil war, adultery and murder with Bathsheba, etc- when this happened, I’m sure David was doubting God and the promise that he had received. He had to understand that God does not have to operate in Chronos (our timing) but that He exists in Chiros (God’s timing)-so His timing is always perfect, even when ours is off.
- Letting Go of our Plan to Receive His
In order to receive God’s plan, we have to let Go of our own. Can you let go of your plan and where you thought you should be? When all your friends are getting married and you aren’t? Do you rejoice outwardly with them, but inwardly envy them? Envy tells God that we don’t like the plan that He has for our life and we want another one. This is an insult to the author and perfector (finisher) of our faith. As Mary stated ‘I am your servant, do as you wish’- may this be our hearts cry as well! In chapter 6 of 2 Samuel, we see what seemed like a ruthless act by God. They are transporting the ark of the covenant back home and they sought to bring it back on a cart pulled by oxen. The instructions to transport the ark were given in Numbers 4, it was only to be carried by Levites and touched by Aaronic priests. David being a king, knew this yet he decided to take the easy route and it cost a man his life. Deciding to follow our own plans instead of waiting for God’s to manifest will cause us a dead Uzzah, a rebellious Ishmael and crushed foot and close encounter with death (Balaam).
Pride comes before a fall. In Chapter 11, David was supposed to be at war, but yet he was home chillen on the roof. What does this say? He was not where He was ordained to be. Whenever we don’t take the time to seek out God’s plan, or we seek it but refuse to follow it, we will always end up seeing things we shouldn’t, doing things we normally wouldn’t, and trying to cover up what we can’t. What does this translate into singleness? Dating, marrying the wrong person because we aren’t in the lane God has called us to be in. Casual dating, and ending up with emotional soul ties, or premarital sex and intimacy soul ties. But even in our disobedience, God can’t lie, so he has stated that ALL things work out for the good.
God is building character in you right now. He is preparing you for what He has in your future. What you go through now, will give you the strength you need to face what is coming.