A Fresh Start

We approach the fall time of the year we begin anew and afresh with church activities as well as continuing to manage our personal lives. Our Lord has given us much direction concerning the duties of life, instructing us to seek His kingdom first and depending upon him to give us that which we have need of. He does not want us to worry about the things of this life which are necessary, but He does call us to plan and carry out our duties with diligence.

Here is the foundation of our approach to having our needs met:
KJV Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

We are to ask, seek and knock:
KJV Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
KJV Matthew 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

We are not to worry, but make our requests to Him;
KJV Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing;(don't worry) but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
We pray;
KJV Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

The example of Jesus in prayer;
KJV Luke 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
KJV Luke 6:13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;

We seek wise counsel from others;
KJV Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

KJV Proverbs 24:6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

We put our plans into action.
KJV Proverbs 21:5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
KJV Proverbs 10:4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
KJV Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
KJV Proverbs 27:23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.

KJV Proverbs 27:25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
KJV Proverbs 27:26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.


We are open to possible changes in direction.
KJV Proverbs 16:9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
KJV Proverbs 19:21 There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

Questions for us to consider… . How are we planning and working our plan?

Where is our planning strongest? Why? Where is our planning weakest? Why?

What can we plan to do better?

May God Bless You!

Pastor Orval Wirkkala