DRAFT 2

we need to be clear about what particular
situations and circumstances we need to
gain control of. We need to know in order to
optimise our decisions, optimise our actions
and thereby optimise our lives.
We all need to be aware of where we
are in life and make a decision to make the
necessary changes. When we ask ourselves
the difficult questions, and give real, honest
consideration to the answers, we can
determine whether we are living by design
or by default. Once we know this, it’s then a
matter of deciding whether or not we want to
make changes.
Ask yourself for example: what kind of life
do I want to live, and am I living it? What kind
of family life do I have now, and is this how
I want it to be? What kind of marriage do I
want to enjoy? Is it the kind of marriage I’m
experiencing now? What kind of business and
financial life do I want to establish, and is that
what I have now? What kind of ministry do
I want to operate in and am I operating in it
now in the way I want to?
RECOGNISE WHERE YOU ARE
When you find yourself restless, unfulfilled
in life, be aware that this may be an indicator
that something in your life may be out of
line. For example, where there is pain, it’s a
sign of disorder. Pain in your life, pain in your
body, pain in your marriage is always a sign of
disorder. There may be an alignment problem.
Just as with a car when the tyres are out of
alignment, they are said to be non-aligned or
misaligned. When there’s non-alignment or
misalignment in life, just as with cars, people
experience ‘shaking’. Things are uncomfortable
and bumpy.
That’s why often on a daily basis, my prayer
is ‘Lord, help me to name the days you have
appointed for me. Help me to know on a daily
basis what to do when I’m 50, when I’m 60 ...’
That’s why we should pray at the beginning
of the day: ‘Lord, what’s your plan and
purpose for me today.’ Every day of our lives
is significant. Every day God has a purpose
and a plan for us. Psalm 68:19 says: “Blessed
be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with
benefits.” KJV
You are important to God. You are made
in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:27).
We have a ‘Big God’, who has the capacity.
He is able to and does take care of millions
and billions of people. He knows everybody
because He is God. God said even the
hairs on our head are numbered (Luke 12:7,
Matthew 10:30). All things are known to Him,
as Romans 11:33–36 says.
Now, it’s possible that you are going through
something and you are wondering ‘is this part
of the plan?’ I’m not suggesting that when
things are part of the ‘design’ they are smooth
sailing and painless. No! Part of the ‘design’
was that Christ had to die on the cross – it
wasn’t easy!
When you’re wondering why some things
are not happening at the time you really want
them to, realise that other things that should
be in place for it to happen, may not yet be.
God has you waiting. There’s often a waiting
time, for the fullness of God’s time for that
particular thing to come to pass. A time to
patiently wait on the Lord.
At these times let your prayer be ‘Lord, let
the people and provision you’ve prepared for
me, before the foundation of the earth, be
ready for what you have ordained for me to
do. I believe you for divine connections and to
open the doors at the right time.’ Remember
“all things God works for the good of those
who love him.” (Romans 28:8)
LIVE BY HIS DESIGN
There are many things people desire to
do and be in the Kingdom of God, but they
often allow themselves to be limited by their
circumstances, limited by the way they think,
and/or limited by a lack of knowledge and
understanding.
People who remain in a limited or
compromised mind-set, people who live a
compromised life, do become frustrated;
even angry and intolerant of those around
them. They can end up feeling very resentful
and become embittered. Bitter because
they haven’t found fulfilment, they didn’t
achieve what they’d intended to or they didn’t
maximise life to the level they knew they were
capable of. It’s a very, very dangerous place
to be in.
If you have many dreams and desires, things
you want to accomplish in life, for them to
come to pass, ask yourself are they part of the
plan of God for your life. It really isn’t about
wishful thinking. God will fulfil and give us
the desires of our hearts, when we trust and
delight in Him (Psalm 37:4), True! But our
plans have to be in consonance with His will
and desire for our lives.
The good news is that God has a good
plan. His plan for our lives is for us to have
an abundant life (John 10:10), for us to have
all things that pertain to life and Godliness
(2 Peter 1:3). If you’ve got to the point in life
where you know you had the capacity to
do this or that, and you didn’t, or if you feel
you’re on the wrong road, it’s not too late. In
fact, you have an opportunity now to get it
right.
Make up your mind about the life you’re
going to live. Decide that your life is going
to be great, your home joyful, your business
or career prosperous, your call and ministry
successful.
Decide that you’re going to walk by the
Spirit. Decide that you’re not going to be
entangled in sin or a life that doesn’t please
God or befit a child of the Most High.
This article is
based on the
Book Living by
Design and not
by Default
© Dipo Oluyomi.
Obtain you copy of the book
at XXXX