Morning Prayer, Monday, February 17, 2026 - WORD(S) OF THE DAY:  YOU CAN’T FORCE LIFE

Father God, let my behavior encourage people to follow You and not repel them.  Amen

“[11] I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”  (Jeremiah 29:11 MSG)

“Even though it is hard sometimes, God’s plan is so much better than anything I could ever come up with.”  There are times in this life when we find ourselves in a place where things do not seem to flow well at al.  No matter how much you pull, push and tug, the door will not come open at all.  There are times in this life when we do manage to get a door open or make things happen that we are determined to see come to pass.  Some of us can testify to the fact that in the end, we discovered it wasn’t a good fit for us at all.  I thought I wanted that but it wasn’t’ what I thought it would be.  I know there have been times in my life when I wanted something really bad only later to thank God that He didn’t let it happen.  God has a set plan for each of us.  Certain things and people do not fit into that plan.  It does us no good to try and force it.  We can lower our level of frustration, discouragement and pain if we try to go with God’s plan.  He does tell us in Jeremiah 29, “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” [Jeremiah 29]   Even though he was talking to the priests and prophets who were exiled in Babylon at that time, He is also talking to us today.”  God has a plan.  We cannot force that plan, but we should trust that plan. 

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"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  John 3:16