This word is submitted by Teresa Seputis (ts@godspeak.org)

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                  Good Plans

Child of Mine, know that I have good plans for you, and that I am 
well able to accomplish them in your life.  Do not be dismayed when
circumstances do not seem to go your way, for I am able to bring My
glory into any circumstance that besets you.  

Look to My word to see how I have dealt with My own through the ages.  
I determined to save Noah and his family from the destruction that must 
come upon a very fallen and decadent mankind. So I gave him instructions 
to build an ark and to collect animals on it that the animals might also 
be preserved to repopulate the earth with their species.  Do you know why 
I chose to do it that way?  It is because I wanted to involve Noah and 
his family in their own deliverance, to give them a purpose and commands 
to obey, that their lives might be richer through the experience.  I 
could have simply swooped them up in the palm of My hand and placed them 
in a refuge for the flood. But if I did it that way, they would not have 
been able to participate with Me in this.  And also they would not have
been given the choice to obey Me.  As it was, they had to choose to build
the ark in faith, not knowing what rain was but only knowing that I
had commanded them.  If they had not obeyed Me, they would have perished
in the flood and human history would have been over.  I value obedience
very much, and at times I will allow crucial things to be influenced by
whether or not My own will obey Me.

At times that is how I choose to work in My children's lives in your
present day. I prepare a plan of deliverance for them, but I require 
them to participate with Me in it. If they choose not to participate 
and do their part, they do not see their deliverance.  

At other times, I control their circumstances and require only that they
stand firm in faith and trust and honor Me.  Look at my servant Joseph.  
He did not choose to be sold into bondage.  But once this befell him, He 
chose to honor Me and act in integrity, because he knew I was a God of 
integrity. And because of that I honored him in the midst of his 
captivity, causing all that he did to prosper until he was prompted to 
be head of all of Potiphar's household.  Even then, adversity befell him
and he was falsely accused and thrown into prison.  But even there I was
with him as he continued to honor Me.  His spirit was in torment and he
did not understand why I allowed all of these difficult circumstances to
befall him, but he clung to Me in faith until I rewarded him.  I molded 
and formed his character in the heat of the affliction of prison, 
redeeming his circumstances.  Then in due time, I caused him to be taken 
out of jail and set into the place of authority that I had prepared for 
him even before he was born.  Joseph stood firm in faith until he reached
his destiny. No difficult or unfair circumstance could keep him from it 
because I was with him, working behind the scenes on his behalf.

Likewise today, I sometimes require that My children stand firm in their
faith in the midst of infirmity and affliction and unfair treatment, 
trusting Me to rise up on their behalf and not losing faith. And even 
though My deliverance is not always instant, it is always sure.  And I 
will come and rescue them from their difficult circumstances and place 
them into the fullness of the destiny that I have been preparing them 
for.

At other times, I require My own to fight to possess their inheritance.
I have given it to them, just as I gave the promised land to Joshua and
the children of Israel. But they did not possess it until they went
in, by faith, and took what was theirs.  And I was with them in the
battle, and I empowered them and no enemy could stand before them.  And
as they obeyed me and fought to take that which I had given them, it 
became reality in their lives.  They received their promise from Me
and inherited their land. But it did not come without a fight.

At times, children of Mine, you must also fight for that which I have
given to you.  It is yours but others are trying to keep it from you,
and you must take it. Even though you are small and weak, I will be
with you as you go to take and possess your promises. And I am strong
and mighty and none can defeat Me.  Child, I will not hand it to you
on a silver platter; you must work for it. But as you work, I will help 
you. And I will teach you of My faithfulness as you step out in Me,
that your faith might grow through seeing me work with you as you 
begin to possess that which I have given to you.  I will make you
a victor because of My might and because of My power and because of
My faithfulness.  

I have good things for you, and if you are willing and obedient, you
shall surely possess them.  How do you know when to act, when to stand
in faith and when to fight in My might? You know what to do because you
look to Me for direction, and I will tell you. I will show you what to
do, for I am faithful and I am at work on your behalf.  As you look to
Me for wisdom and direction, I will give it to you. And as you lean on
Me in trust and obedience and as you choose to honor Me, I will thrust 
you into the place of victory and you will surely possess the fullness 
of the destiny that I have prepared for you.  Look up and rejoice, for 
your redemption draws near.