Ascend: An 11-Day Devotional With Red Rocks WorshipExemplo

GOOD PLANS

Good Plans was written for the tensions of life: to remind us that the seasons where grieving, being in process, and walking through the valley of the shadow of death can still be points of connection with the Lord. As we journey with God there are many rhythms that we experience. A cycle that many fall prey to is identifying our mountains and valleys as indicators of God’s closeness and approval; the highs make you feel good, and the lows make you feel forsaken, sometimes causing you to harden your heart against the Father. We blame him for the difficult seasons and thank him for the good ones. This song is a way to lean into a fundamental truth about life with Jesus: we can take heart in deserts or in gardens when we are abiding with him.

While most of the lyric content for this song was pulled from Psalm 23, there is a network of scripture that was built into this song. Psalm 119:11 says, “I hide your word in my heart so that I won’t sin against you,” and the familiar encouragement found in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you...” These reminders give us words during seasons when we don’t know exactly how to respond. This song can absolutely be declared on the mountaintops of your life; it will cause you to praise him as faithful and as a wonderful gift-giver. But it can also equip us during the seasons in life that shatter us, while we desperately watch and wait for God to reveal what’s next. We can look at disappointment, grief, and each lie of the enemy and say, “If I know my Father, I know my Father has good plans.”

1. Is there grief in your life that you can invite the Holy Spirit into to bring comfort and counsel?

2. What can you do in your everyday life to call to remembrance the faithfulness of God towards you?

VIDEO BLURB: Life with God is marked by many rhythms and seasons. We are tempted to assume that our mountains and valleys indicate God’s closeness and approval; when things are good, God must be pleased with us. When things are bad, we feel forsaken, and sometimes even harden our hearts against the Father. We blame him for the difficult seasons and thank him for the good ones. This song is a way to lean into a fundamental truth about life with Jesus: we can take heart in deserts or in gardens when we are abiding with him.