God's Personal Plan

Scripture – John 21:20-25: Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) It is so easy to keep my eye on other people and wonder, “What about them?” Most of the time, I know what the Lord wants me to do. And a lot of the time it seems like other people are doing something else. If I’m not careful, I get resentful. It’s like when I was younger and my parents wouldn’t let me do some of the things my friends were doing. I didn’t trust them enough to know they were looking out for me. Each one us has been created by God with a personal plan and purpose in mind. My best goal in life is to discover what that is for me and to let myself be the person God created me to be.

Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) I will let Christ continue His transforming work within me. My goal is to let Him flow through me so I don’t have to consciously act like a Christian. Rather, I will be a follower of Christ. I will be like Him.

Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Lord, I have no hope of achieving that goal apart from you. Teach me to keep the door of my heart open to you. Show me how to let you live in and through me.