“HIS GOOD PLEASURE!”

Philippians 2:12-18                                             (ESV)
“12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
13 for it is GOD WHO works in you, both to will and to work for “HIS GOOD PLEASURE”.
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing,
15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of GOD without blemish in the midst of a CROOKED and TWISTED generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of CHRIST I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.”

A thought came across my mind this morning as I was contemplating a meme that was shared last night, GOD NEVER GIVES YOU A DREAM THAT MATCHES YOUR BUDGET!  GOD ISN’T CHECKING YOUR FINANCES, HE’S CHECKING YOUR FAITH!!!  The thought was “GOD is required to accomplish things outside of our abilities, but inside of our FAITH”!  My mind was caused to think this way because of a passage of Scripture I heard last week from Matthew 8:13 saying “And to the centurion JESUS said, "Go; let it be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment.”  According to Matthew 8:13, the centurion told JESUS “LORD, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly."  The centurion must have cherished his servant, because he came to JESUS in Capernaum to inform HIM of his predicament.   Of course,JESUS told the centurion “Go; LET IT BE DONE for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment.”

Whenever we are placed in a position of not being able to accomplish our hearts desires, we need to make certain our hearts are lining up with GOD’S Plan!  Our hearts desires are met when we “delight yourself in the LORD” (Psalms 37:4), and for me that usually means that I have to adjust my life to HIS Plan.  Getting what I want is great when that happens, but it is only if it is in “HIS GOOD PLEASURE”!  GOD is FAR wiser than we are and HE has our best interests in HIS Plan.  We should TRUST HIM to perform “HIS GOOD PLEASURE” in our lives and acknowledge that we don’t know what is best.

“For it is GOD WHO works in you, both to will and to work for “HIS GOOD PLEASURE” says that GOD is working in and through our lives to accomplish HIS Plan FOR HIS GLORY!  Trusting that HE is accomplishing HIS Plan in our lives is what FAITH is all about.  It might be in getting what we want, and it might be changing our wants!  But HE will accomplish “HIS GOOD PLEASURE”!!!  Wait for it!!!