I recently saw a quote that read, “I feel like my life is being written by someone who doesn’t like me very much.” I thought, “Welcome to the world.” We live in a fallen world where a spiritual battle has been waged against mankind! 

Let me give you a discouraging word. I don’t care how saved you are, the devil hates you. Regardless of your salvation, his main goal is to keep you from walking in God's plan for your life. Some people call this stealing the Glory, because if you are not walking out God's plan, you are not walking in His Glory. 

John 16:33 states: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Thank God for the Blood of Jesus! 

Jeremiah 29:11 says: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (NKJV).

We can run with that and become quick to judge people when they hit hard times and the devil starts playing "Whack-a-mole" on their heads.  We can get cynical and assume they missed God. 

People could have thought that about the apostle Paul. His life was pretty good until he received Jesus as his Lord and Savior. From that point on, the "Whack-a-mole" game was on. Paul was beaten, put in stocks, imprisoned, shipwrecked, starved, and then persecuted unto death where he was possibly beheaded.

That doesn’t sound like a good and perfect plan, does it? The perfect part of the plan is between the lines. Paul was able to witness to the influencers of that age—kings, governors, generals and more. The devil thought imprisoning Paul would stop the gospel of Jesus Christ. What the devil used to harm one man, God used to build the Church—through Paul’s letters that continue to teach us today and make up about one-third of the New Testament.  It probably never crossed Paul’s mind that his writings would be recorded in God's Sacred Book.  Paul was probably just working hard to keep his mind stayed on the LORD because he knew where his peace came from. It may not have looked like peace when the Lord showed Paul all the things he would endure to accomplish the good and perfect part of the plan (Acts 9:16). Yet Paul accepted the assignment and saw it as a sport. I’ve read that blood sports were very popular back then. 

Act 21:11-12 tells us that a prophet took Paul’s belt and wrapped his hand in it saying, “The Holy Spirit declares, ‘So shall the owner of this belt be bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles.’” Paul knew this was prophesying his death. I don’t know about you, but I believe I would have given that belt away that day. But to Paul, this was not a surprise because Paul had a prayer life. Prayer is not one-sided. It is a dialog. You speak to God, then listen; God will speak to you through His Spirit who lives in every born-again believer. God is not way out there beyond the stars. He’s in you—close enough to hear the small still voice. 

You may feel like someone who hates you is writing your story. The truth is you may need to jump some hurdles in your race. But along the way, you will have opportunities to accomplish God's perfect plan for your life. Our focus must be on the promises and off the problem. If we focus on the problems, we will get off the path and plan God has written for us. 

Paul ran a race—a race he was determined to win. He didn’t win it by crying and complaining. He won by finishing. Don’t give up. Listen up. God has a strategy. Attacks will come but you were born to overcome. 

Psalm 139 reminds us, "All of your days were written before you were born." God has already penned the magnificent story of your life. The key is to stay connected by following the leading of the Holy Spirit. Be a doer of His Word. Your story is intertwined with His Word and in His Word is a wondrous plan. God assures us His plans for us are saturated with goodness, designed to give us a bright future and hope. 

Now, run your race like the champion you are!

1 Corinthians 9:24 (NKJV) “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”