Open Heavens 23 December 2015: Wednesday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Check your desires

Topic: Check your desires [Wednesday 23 December, 2015]

Memorise: And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul. - Psalm 106:15

Read: Psalm 106:13-18 (KJV)

13 They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:

14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.

15 And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

16 They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD.

17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.

18 And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.

Bible in One Year: Proverbs 17:19-21:1; 2 Peter 3

MESSAGE:

In the plan of God for you as a child of destiny, both those who love you and those who hate you have a part to play in bringing about the fulfilment of your destiny. For example, in the case of Joseph, his father loved him but his brothers hated him. Ideally, Joseph would have preferred that his brothers loved him like his father did. But if that had happened, how would he ever have arrived at the place of his destiny? His brothers, provoked by envy, provided the free transportation that took him to his place of destiny. If they had known that their evil intentions towards their younger brother would fast-track his dreams coming true, would they have sold him into slavery? I doubt it. This simply tells us that the enemy does not see the bigger picture. God only allows the enemy to see how they can hinder you, while He hides from them how their actions will benefit you. Believe it or not, as long as you are in God's will, every negative move your enemy makes will work towards your good. May the Lord open your eyes to see the good in the bad actions of your enemies in Jesus' Name.

Moreover, there is a difference between desire and God's purpose. It is possible for you to have a desire which tallies with God's plan and purpose for your life. In this scenario, your desire and God's purpose will harmonise to move you into your destiny. However, it is also possible to desire what contradicts God's purpose for your life. In such a scenario, if your desire is granted, it could delay, distort, modify or even cancel God's plan for your life. For example, God may want you to live and serve Him in a particular country - say your homeland, whereas you may desire to go to a more developed country for greener pastures. If God loves you, He will not grant your desire, so that you can remain in His plan for your life. Although Jesus in Mark 11:24 promised to deliver to you your requests made in faith, yet, as a child of destiny, you must be careful what you ask for, lest you ask outside of God's will, and He sends leanness into your soul (Psalm 106:15). Every time you desire what God does not want for you, it amounts to working against your God-given destiny. Stop working against God's plan for your life. From today, harmonise your plan with God's purpose for you. Any personal plan that does not blend with God's plan must be discarded.

Prayer Point: Father, cause the activities of all those who are deliberately working against me to work for my good.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.

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