Jeremiah 29:11, King James Version - ¹¹ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. ¹² Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. ¹³ And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

God thinks about you. Imagine that ... God, sitting there on His throne, thinking about you! And what thoughts does He have? Thoughts of peace, of keeping you from evil and harm, considering how to give you His future.

How do you find God's guidance?  Easy.  Just seek God in His Word, and in heartfelt prayer -- searching with all your heart -- and you shall find Him. God promises that, in verses 12 and 13.  

Another translation of verse 11 is a wonderful statement of God’s plans for you.

Jeremiah 29:11, New International Version - ¹¹ "For I know the plans that I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

How do you see God’s plans for you? How do you know how to walk in His plans for you?  Again, that's easy. God tells you that if you listen for His voice, you shall hear it.

Isaiah 30:12 - ²¹And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it," when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left.

Remember the stories about that still, small voice of conscience speaking in your ears? This is what Isaiah is speaking about – a voice speaking in your ears as if it was coming from someone standing behind you, saying "Walk this way, turn left here, now turn right, that’s right, yes ..." God will literally tell you His way for you, if you will only listen.

Isaiah 42:16 - ¹⁶And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

Sometimes we just don’t know where we are, how we got there, or where to go from here. Sometimes its late, and its getting dark, as evening approaches, yet the paths in from of us just aren’t straight.  In fact, they’re very crooked and seem to wander to and fro, all the while going away from where we think we need to go. Well, in such situations God can make even crooked paths straight. He can make our darkness turn into His light. Although we may literally be just like a blind man, wondering alone, not knowing which way to go, which fork to take, which path to follow ... God knows. And, better than that, He will not forsake us to our own vain attempts to find the right way -- He will always show us the way.

Psalms 48:14 - ¹⁴ For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death [unto the end].

There will never be a situation in which God will not act as our one true guide. He will guide us even unto the ends of the earth, and to the end of our days.

Psalms 37:23-26 - ²³ The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. ²⁴ Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. ²⁵ I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. ²⁶ He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

You want your steps ordered by the Lord? Be a good man. Want your life’s path to be a delight? Be a good man who orders his feet in God’s revealed path. If you resolve in your heart to do this, then you will never be allowed to be cast down utterly. You may occasionally stumble or fall, but you shall not be cast down. God will uphold you, He will always keep you in His protective hands. Never will you be forsaken by our God, nor your children, nor your children’s children. God is forever merciful, returning transgression with forgiveness, giving undeserved bounty to the righteous, always blessing you and your children. This is the God you have chosen to follow, and the righteous path that you seek, God's way to a much more abundant, blessed, God-filled life.

Psalms 32:8-11 - ⁸ I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. ⁹ Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. ¹⁰ Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. ¹¹ Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

Listen to God’s guidance. He promises to instruct you and teach you in the way you are to go. He will guide you with His own eyes! Don’t be mulish, stubborn, foolish in you walk. Be happy that God has His eyes on you, ever willing to give you instruction in righteousness, blessings, joy, providing you a mercy-filled life. Trust in God, and he will surround your life with divine judgment withheld -- mercy.

Psalms 73:22-28 - ²² So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. ²³ Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. ²⁴ Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. ²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. ²⁶ My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. ²⁷ For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. ²⁸ But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

God is forever faithful. Even when we act like mules, being foolish, ignorant, acting like a real beast, God shall always be by our side, watching over us, keeping a watchful eye upon us. Even when and though we don’t deserve it, He will guide us by our right hand, leading us down the safe path, the blessed path. He will guide us with His matchless counsel, and receive us into heavenly glory when that set time arrives. Even when we in our weakness fail Him, His strength will not fail us. Keep God close to you, and He will keep you safe. It is His way of declaring His works through your life.

Proverbs 16:6-9, 16-25, 33-34 - ⁶ By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. ⁷ When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. ⁸ Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right. ⁹ A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. ... ¹⁶ How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver! ¹⁷ The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. ¹⁸ Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. ¹⁹ Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. ²⁰ He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he. ²¹ The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. ²² Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly. ²³ The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips. ²⁴ Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. ²⁵ There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. ... ³² He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. ³³ The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

Hearken unto God’s guidance. Depart from evil. Stay close upon God’s path. When you do this, God will make even your enemies chose to seek peace with you. Want a healthy life? Stay on the God’s highway! Remember, it is better to be right thinking and right acting and do with less, than to be unrighteous yet having more. For gold and silver is no where near as valuable as God’s wisdom, having an understanding of God and His Word.

And it’s not that you can not have what you want. God created you with free will. You may think all you want about what it is you want in life.  You can devise all the plans you want to get you there. That’s perfectly OK. Just remember to seek God’s path towards your plans.

Be slow to anger, rule your spirit, seeking righteousness in all things, and God promises that He will direct your steps on how to get there. Remember, regardless of what your lot in life is, where you were born, what your beginnings were, rich or poor, humble or haughty, the path to God’s blessings is God’s own to disburse as it pleases Him alone. If you are wise, seeking after God’s learning and listening to His wisdom, avoiding the instruction of fools, avoiding those ways that seem right but that lead only to an untimely death, then God shall surely richly bless your righteous life, giving you a happy life, a life of joy and peace.

God’s words are pleasant, like honey, sweet to your soul, giving health to your bones. Seek God’s guidance in all things, and you shall surely find it, always. Thereby you shall gain riches and blessings ... and so much more that we can scarcely comprehend the wonder of it. Amen.