The Lord’s Plan for Us

The Lord’s plan for us has always been simple. He has said, “You don’t have to fear any power that comes against you. I’ll act as your defender at all times. If you will simply trust my sworn promises, casting yourself into my care by faith, I will be almighty God to you. I will conquer all your enemies and cast them down before you. You’ll be victorious, more than a conqueror, living out your days in peace and with no fear.”

Are you living out your days without fear, with a calm spirit and a peaceful mind? Most of us do not live even a fraction of our time that way. We go in and out of our moments of peace, but we do not fully enter into God’s rest.

If you are troubled, perplexed, distressed over a besetting sin, you have to understand that God is not mad at you. He does not want to discipline or judge you. On the contrary, he yearns to infuse you with his omnipotent power!

God says essentially the same thing in all of his covenants: “I’m looking for a people who will believe I will deliver them from all their enemies.” “And the covenant that I have made with you, you shall not forget, nor shall you fear other gods. But the Lord your God you shall fear; and he will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies” (2 Kings 17:38-39, NKJV).

In the Old Testament, those enemies were heathen nations: Philistines, Moabites, Hittites, Jebusites, Canaanites. All these evil powers sought to destroy God’s people and place them back in bondage.

Today, our enemies exist in the spiritual realm: demonic powers, fleshly lusts, evil desires. God has not left us to fight these forces alone. In the New Testament, he repeats his pledge to his people: “I am going to be God to you, and you are going to be my son, my daughter. In fact, you will be my child from now through all eternity. Therefore, remember the covenant I have made with you. You shall not fear any man or power, only me. I will deliver you out of the hands of all your enemies, including demonic harassment, clinging lusts, dominating habits, all besetting sins” (see Hebrews 8:10).