Your future, which, by definition, is the life in front of you, is a gift from God: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to GIVE YOU HOPE AND A FUTURE.” (Jer 29:11) (emphasis mine). The life in front of you is God’s to give to you, and yours to receive as you trust and exercise faith in Him. No amount of fretting will guarantee you a bright future. To those who thought their self-effort independent of the Holy Spirit would give them a great future, God had this to say: “This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.” (Isa 30:15 NLT).
The salvation which Jesus has purchased for is an all-inclusive package, provides us with the best possible future in God’s plans for us. However, as the scriptural text above reveals, only in returning to God and resting in Him will we enjoy the benefits of salvation. Additionally, as we maintain quietness and confidence in God, we receive divine strength to draw upon resources of our salvation: “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ ” Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation.” (Isa 12:2-3). Have you recognised God as your salvation and do you trust in Him as your strength, in whose hands is your future?
One of Satan’s most potent tactics of deception is to lure us into worrying about the future to the point of neglecting the potential of the present. It is important to note that worry is a means by which Satan steals our time, and attention, with the intention of ultimately stealing our future.
Jesus clearly understands this satanic delusion, and, therefore, says, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matt 6:34). Of course, this does not imply that we should not think or prepare for the future, but that we should never worry about it.
Though the facts may point in an opposite direction, the truth about your future is what God says about it. “Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.” (Job 8:7 NIV). Never let anything convince you otherwise. Many people ignorantly think that the negative circumstances of their past or their current difficult situation, inevitably mirrors their future. This misconception gives the devil pleasure more than anything else, because it facilitates his efforts at deceiving the people and ultimately destroying them. As the father of lies, Satan knows that if we accept his picture of the future, we empower him to make it our reality. Therefore, he will do anything to mask his intentions, and even his involvement in our mendacious evaluation of life. He is the master of subterfuge, a crafty creature.
To keep ahead of him requires that we yield to the Holy Spirit and let Him lead us in all our ways. Only He can expose the subtle and insidious wiles of the devil. It is impossible for anyone to escape demonic deception without the help of the Holy Spirit. He is the Spirit of truth (Jn 14:17), who has come to guide us into all truth (Jn 16:13). Anyone who thinks he or she cannot be deceived has already been deceived. Let us, therefore, submit to the Holy Spirit and cease striving and know that He is God. Shalom.
