How to Remain Open to God's Plan for Your Life

Ever remained clueless even after giving your life to Christ? Or maybe you just felt so? Yes, it happens. The question is, “When I have given my life to Christ, what next?”. We should know that God has plans for every individual and that it is our decision to walk down that path. God is not authoritative, hence, He has granted us the liberty of choice and free-will. Now, making the choice of walking down the path of God’s plan for you is not actually enough to do it, it is a deliberate and intentional decision. Also, it comes with a lot of sacrifices. Unfortunately, some Christians do not even know how to hear from God and they ask questions like “How do I know when God is speaking to me?”. Most of the time, this is actually as a result of our insensitivity. Hey Christians, be attentive! Listen!!

If you really feel you have done your best to listen to God’s voice but it’s just not forthcoming, then maybe this article might just be for you! Here are things you can do to actually be open to God’s plan;

 

·       1. Stay Open-minded

When someone tells you the way to remain open is to be open, do you think it’s weird? Well, maybe you need a better understanding. Sometimes, we are blinded by the things we go through in our daily lives that we do not even pay attention to what the inner man tells us. You go to work, have a very bad day, and the only thing you do is lament. It is in the nature of humans to lament, but lamentations should never be your consolation or solace as a Christian. Always look past whatever present challenge you face and look forward to what God holds for you in the future. Do not be blinded by trials and tribulations, instead, always find hope in the word of God and remember that the trials are temporary distraction mechanisms of the devil. Only then can you focus on the better plans God has for you. Remember Hebrews 3:15, “Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation”.

 

·       2. Always Meditate on God's Word

John 1:1 says “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”. The Bible is not some sort of poetic compilations or a list of stories to read for pleasure as some people think. The Bible is indeed the word of God and God speaks to us through it. Hence, the Bible should be read with intentionality to actually hear from God. When you do this, you’d realize how much God has been talking to you while you were not paying attention. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate therein day and night, that you may observe to do all that is written, for then you shall make thy way prosperous, and then thou shall have good success, this is God’s command and after it, comes the fulfilment of God’s plan for your life because God’s word is a lamp to your feet and a light to your path.

 

·         3. Pray

The importance of prayer can never be overemphasized because it is the only way one can be in constant communication with God. Do you expect to hear from someone you do not talk to? God Himself told us in Jeremiah 33:3; Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. There is no way you can even know God’s will if you do not seek to know. Is it possible to know what is in a man’s mind if he does not tell you himself? This is the way it is with God and it is important to build a close relationship with God before we can find out what he has in store for us.

 

·        4. Stay Calm

To remain open to God’s plan for us, we must acknowledge the fact that He is God. We should not feel too smart to be patient even in our prayer lives. Majority of Christians nowadays are misdirected while praying, we often forget that praying should be done with God’s direction and not to please people around. It is quite unfortunate that the only time we remember “the kingdom of God suffers violence” is when God tells you “Be still, and know that I am God”. Are we actually willing to hear from God? Or are we just raising our voices violently while praying so we can get noticed? This is an act of folly and immaturity that needs to be shunned. The Bible commands us to worship Him in spirit and in “truth”, we definitely know we can never deceive God with physical gesticulations. James 1:19 says “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” and according to Romans 8:14, all who are led by the spirit of God are sons of God. Hence, be patient, calm and willing to receive directions from God and the Lord shall direct your path.

 

Conclusion

Everyone who calls himself a child of God should hear from God. If you do not, meditate on what you have learned above and put it to practice. John 8:47 says “Whoever is of God hears the word of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God”. God himself laid emphasis in John 10:27; My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. Make that decision to surrender yourself completely to God today and He shall guide you to walk in His plan.