BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

B V O V : 2 9 says things like this: "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'" (Jeremiah 29:11, New International Version). "We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose" (Romans 8:28, AMPC). "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]" (Ephesians 2:10, AMPC). "As the Scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, [all that] God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him" (1 Corinthians 2:9, AMPC). Notice those verses not only confirm that God has a plan for you, but they also say it's good! God knows the difference between good and bad. Contrary to what's sometimes been said, He doesn't make you sick or keep you poor, or send you some other bad thing as a "blessing in disguise." No, if things are going badly in your life, God is not your problem. He's your answer! He's a good God who wants to do you good—and He understands very well what good is. He knows that godly prosperity is good. Healing is good. Peace in your family and having your loved ones saved is good. And He's included all those good things and more in His plan for your life. Do you know what else He has for you? He has a place for you. A good place, where you can live and carry out His plan! God has always provided a place for His people. Think about Adam and Eve, for instance. He prepared and provided the Garden of Eden for them. Talk about a good place to carry out God's plan! That Garden was perfect. The temperature was perfect. It had everything good Adam and Eve could ever need or desire. Sadly, though, Adam and Eve didn't stay with God's plan. They didn't believe and obey His Word. So, they wound up having to leave that wonderful place. Taking Your Promised Land Even after Adam and Eve messed things up, however, God still kept providing good places for His people. We see it all the way through the Bible. When He made His covenant with Abram, a place was one of the first things He promised him. "Get thee out of thy country," God said to Abram, "and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee" (Genesis 12:1). God even expanded that promise to include Abraham's heirs: "Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates" (Genesis 15:18). Of course, Abraham's descendants didn't always take God up on that promise. When God brought them out of Egypt, for example, He tried to get them to go into their Promised Land, but they refused. They were afraid the giants living there would kill them. "God is not your problem.... He's a good God who wants to do you good."

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