Have you asked God for something good and gave up because you didn’t see it come to pass?  If that is you, I want to encourage you today to hold tight to what you have asked of God, because He is faithful to bring good to His children. 

When one gives up on God it is because he or she doesn’t have the knowledge of God.  When we know the Word we can know God, and know that He has every intention to bring good to us.

Ephesians 2:10  For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

God’s Word makes it plain to see that He has a plan and that plan (the path He has intended for us) is designed to take us to the good life. God’s best for us is to live according to the perfect, individualized plan He prearranged us.

God wants only good for us, and He won‘t change, He will remain the same, His will is always good. 

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse].

As we acknowledge God (Proverbs 3:6) by taking that path He has for us, we will be relying on Him and He will take us to the good life He intended for us to live.

God gives us the order of getting on that path in Ephesians 2:10, starting with our recreation.  First God says we are recreated born anew, in Christ Jesus (to be like Him) that we may do the good works He has planned for us. 

Being like God (recreated), is healthy and for our advantage.  God describes Himself in 1 Corinthians 13, as patient, kind, not self seeking, not easily angered, not touchy or resentful…  God is healthy.  Think of it, if we were to strive to be like Him, we could eliminate all the emotional drama in our lives.  Submitting to our recreation will infuse God’s peace, revelation and power in our lives to be healthy and to do His will, living the good life He intends for us.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:48 that we are to imitate our Father, to be perfect as He is.  As we mature, learning to take on His character we are not only healthy like God, but we are preparing (as His design) to represent Him here on the earth.  As we represent God, we will be bringing glory to His name, showing His goodness in our character and in our commitment to live the life He designed for us to live. Living the good life God designed for us to live proves His will is good and perfect (Romans 12:2).

God wants us to be an example of Him by showing His character just as Jesus did when He was here.  Jesus said He didn’t do or say anything other than what His Father said.  He said He didn’t speak on His own accord, but only what He was told by His Father.  If we get on that path that was predestined for us, we too will be in agreement with God, (speaking His Words, showing who He is as we live our lives His way).  

Thus, if we have God’s best in our lives, it is because we chose Him.  When we choose God, when we are willing to submit to Him, is when we will know Him (John 14:21).  When we know God, we will hear Him speak to us and direct us on that path He has for us.  Only God, no other, can direct us.  Only God knows that plan He has designed strategically for each one of us.  It is God’s desire that we know Him, that we come close to Him, and experience all the good He has for us.

Referring back to Ephesians the next thing God said is, He has a work for us to do.  After the recreation, once we have taken on His character, He sends us out on our assignment (to do good works for Him).  

John 14:12 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father.  AMP.

God has a special assignment for each one of us to do.   The assignment God has for you will be one you love.  It will be your passion, just as Jesus’ assignment was His passion.  With the passion you will have a zest to live, and you will have great contentment!  The work God has for you will stem from the gift He put on the inside of you.  God gifted you and I to do a work for Him--and that work will provide for you in everyway (Proverbs 18:16).  

John 14:13 And I will do [I Myself will grant] whatever you ask in My Name [as presenting all that I Am], so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son. 14 [Yes] I will grant [I Myself will do for you] whatever you shall ask in My Name [as presenting all that I Am].  AMP.

Jesus said I will grant you whatever you ask, in My name presenting all that I am.  As we represent Him in character and by doing the work He called us to, we can ask what we will and it will be granted to us.  Therefore as we live by His will, representing Him, we will not lack in any area of our lives.  When we are recreated and are living the plan God has for us we will bring glory to His name because we are living well, in happiness, proving His goodness.

Just as Jesus did the will of the Father, just as He only did and said what the Father told Him to say and do, we will, when we are in agreement with Him.  Thus, as we do His will, all we have to do is ask for what we need to do His work, and Jesus said He would grant it to us Himself.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

It is obvious God only has good for us and that the good happens as we strive to know Him and then trust His way for us is good. 

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.  Amp.

We are important to God and God not only wants to do good for us, but it is in His plan that we do good for Him. God choosing us to do His work is an awesome privilege, and evidence that we are important to Him.   

Relationships are not one sided, we cannot expect God to do good for us, without us doing good for Him.  God is on a mission: and that is that not one of His children should perish, He wants all of His children to know Him and the truth about Him.  When we live the plan God has for us, we are partaking in His mission for His children to know His truth.  No matter what part God has for you to do, it is important and it will be a demonstration of His love.

Matthew 6:33 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things [taken together will be given you besides.  Amp.

The fundamentals of us doing His greater works and another part of our recreation is, to learn His way of living.  When we learn to put God and His ways first we will be living well in His Kingdom, we will be noted as His, and we will be attracting others to Him.

Ultimately living life Gods’ way is having our focus on His heart's desires.   While we focus on God, we will be in the process of our recreation, becoming a living example of Him--for Him. That is the basics of our assignment and that is living the importance of life Jesus talked about in Matthew 6:25. Life has greater meaning than just living to survive.  If we spend our whole life just taking care of ourselves we have missed the purpose of life, and the blessing of God.  

God’s Kingdom way is one of giving; therefore we need to learn to give--imitating Him.  Isn't that what a real relationship is about?  We can't expect God to do good for us when we are not willing to do good for Him.   

Many times I have asked God why a good thing I have asked for hadn’t come to pass yet. He reminds me each time with the same answer, “As you take care of My things, I will take care of yours.“  He was referring to my assignment.  His concern is for His children to know Him and that He is good.  My assignment is to prove His will is good and perfect by living my life His way, representing Him in all I do--partaking in His works to accomplish His mission.

Matthew 7:11 If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him! Amp.

God already has good in mind for us and when we keep asking for good, He will give good to us.  Sometimes the good we need at the moment, isn't a thing, but to know His heart--to have the revelation of knowing He wants you and me to be a part of what He is doing. God recreating us to be like Him to show His love to those who don’t know Him is a revelation we need and will bring us fullness of joy.  

When we know the heart of God, we will gain surety--a trust in Him we didn't have before.

Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams] — Amp.

God is our source and all we need is Him; when we have Him (at work in us) we have everything we need, and we will know it. When His power is at work in us, we will experience His superabundant blessing beyond what we can ask or think.   

God shared this with me one day. He said if He took all of our requests and put them in a box, shook them up and dumped them on us all at once, like we might think He should--our lives would be a mess. He said He has a strategic plan for each of our lives and knows exactly when each good thing should happen, not at random, not always when we ask, but at the perfect time. 

God not only wants to bless us superabundantly just because He loves us, but He wants to bring glory to His name as He does it. Therefore He plans the perfect time for our blessing, for our advantage, and for the advantage of others.  

As you live the plan God has for you, you will be Gods’ witness for others to see His goodness and His favor.  Our part is to be transparent and share with those around us our experience of how to get on the good path God has for us and encourage them to know that God has a good plan for them. Many think God is a wish, but He is really the way, a new way of life we need to learn to have His full blessings in our lives.  

God wants to show His faithfulness, His love and compassion to you; in fact I believe He is calling out to you today asking you, will you go for Me? Will you live the good life I planned for you? Will you let Me give you all the good I have in mind for you? Will you let Me love you?