A 5 day devotional series breaking down the heart behind Danny Gokey’s brand new album, “Haven’t Seen It Yet”. Each day focuses on a new topic that surrounds one of the tracks on the album. Every devotional is written by Danny himself and ends with a confession/prayer to reflect.
Capitol CMG Label Group and Danny Gokey
Day 1
Scripture: Psalms 139:15-16
Day 1: God’s master plan for your life.
Did you know, even before you took your first breath, God had already written the story of your life? In this divine plan, He gave you everything you needed to live an abundant and fulfilling life.
Psalm 139:15-16 (NLT) says, “You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”
This virtual map was designed for you as an individual. It was made with your unique gifts, callings and desires in mind.
He has a specific job for you. Whether it is to be a business owner, a stay at home mom, a highly praised employee, a pastor, or even a missionary. He has something you were created specifically to do. God also has special friendships, family members and other significant relationships in store. He orchestrates the places you’ll live, the places you’ll work, the opportunities you’ll be given, impactful connections and doorways for you to walk through.
One of the lines in my song, “Haven’t Seen It Yet,” says, “He had the solution before you had the problem.” What a powerful thought! God is always a step ahead. He’s already in your future, waiting for you to arrive.
You may find it hard to believe that the God of the universe would take the time to attend to these kinds of details for your life when He has so much to do in the world. Or maybe you’re thinking, “Even if He intended that for me, I’ve made too many mistakes, so I’m sure He’s changed His mind.” Maybe your marriage is struggling, you don’t like your job and your kids are driving you nuts!
That’s because, the enemy of your soul will do everything he can to pull you away from God’s way. He will try to rewrite your story by luring you to make poor choices, fall into addictions, or question God and His timing. He will try to convince you that the plan doesn’t exist, and the success of your life is all up to you.
The truth is, the sooner you understand and accept by faith that God has this master plan, the sooner you can start enjoying the peace that comes when we surrender to His divine strategy.
Wherever you find yourself on the journey today, no matter how many detours you’ve taken, or chapters you feel like you’ve skipped, God can redeem the time you’ve lost and get you to the place you’re destined to be. Don’t lose faith because of past mistakes or bad decisions. God can take even the ugliest, most painful events in your life and use it for His glory. Prepare your heart in this moment to embrace the good plan God has for you! Remember, you are chosen; you are loved; and it’s not too late to start living His master plan for your life and be all He’s created you to be.
Confession/prayer: Father in heaven I let go of what I think is the best plan for me and I choose your plans. I want everything you have for me. Take my life, my heart and everything I will be and use it for Your glory. I just want you.
Day 2
Scripture: Romans 8:28
Day 2: Redemption and Grace
Paul is a perfect example of how God can redeem the lost chapters of our lives. Before his radical encounter with Christ, Paul was actually known as Saul; and he was notorious for killing Christians and living a life far from God. Talk about a man who was not living out the plan of God, but the plan of the enemy! Even still, we don’t see Paul lamenting all the bad things he did before he committed his life to Christ. We see him glorifying God and allowing the God who makes all things new to get him back on track.
Paul used his personal testimony of God’s incredible grace to transform everyone around him. This ought to be a great encouragement to us. Wherever you find yourself today, it doesn’t have to be the end of the story. Whether you’ve been saved for decades or only a few days, God wants to engage with you right here, right now, right where you are. He wants to invade your marriage, your home life and your career; and He wants to make all of it brand new. He can fix what looks unfixable. The key is not to focus on the insurmountable problems, but like Paul, focus on the miracle working God.
Romans 8:28 (NIV) tells us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.” God can fix the unfixable. The key is not to focus on the insurmountable problems in front of us, but like Paul, to focus on the miracle-working God standing beside us.
Lay every broken thing at the feet of Jesus, and watch what He will do. He will give you opportunities to share His goodness with everyone you meet. Just like my song says, “You’re closer than you think you are… All His promises are just up ahead. Maybe you just haven’t seen it yet.”
Sometimes we have to contend for God’s promises before we see them. If you’re feeling frustrated and deflated when you take inventory of your life, because you’re not where you thought you’d be by now, take heart. IT’S NOT OVER! You could be moments away from the breakthrough you’ve been praying for. I hope today’s devotional will propel you forward in your faith journey, because I am certain that God will be faithful to finish the good work He started in you.
Confession/ prayer: God you are the redeemer of my life. I’m not trusting myself but I’m wholly trusting in you. I’m not running from my problems anymore but I’m running to you. I acknowledge you in all my ways because you promised to direct my paths.
Day 3
Scripture: Psalms 147:3
Day 3: You are wanted.
When I was writing the song “Wanted,” my co-writer was going through a difficult time. He had been praying about a specific situation that happened when he was younger. No matter how hard he prayed, he couldn’t seem to get past this incident from his childhood. He even had a bunch of friends praying for him, but he still felt the impact of the event on his life. He was praying for freedom from the past because it was holding him back from all the good things God had planned for him in the present.
Finally, one day while he was praying, God gave him a powerful picture. God took him back to the place of this traumatic event; but this time, my friend saw Jesus standing on the side of the room. Then He walked over and told my friend, “I was there the day you lost your heart, and now I’m giving it back to you.” Then Jesus handed him his heart, but it wasn’t broken, it was healed and whole.
We wrote the song “Wanted” for anyone, like my friend, who’s been wounded by circumstances beyond their control. You can be assured that the God who holds the universe in His hands is holding your heart. He takes great care with it, because he wants you more than you could ever know.
The first verse of “Wanted” says, “I was there the moment it happened, but you couldn’t see Me through the pain. I caught every tear as they were falling, when you lost your heart that day.” The chorus goes on to say, “If you could see it through My eyes, you’d know that you are wanted.”
Friends, you have value in the eyes of God. No matter what you’ve been through; no matter what you’ve been told; you matter. Many times, we don’t understand His love for us because we compare the way God loves us with the way other people have loved us. And there is no comparison.
Humans are capable of wounding one another greatly. God is incapable of wounding us. He offers us a safe place to rest from the wounds of the world. Psalm 147:3 (NIV) says, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
We have to allow God to heal our hurt in order for us to fully embrace the good and perfect plan He has for our lives.
Maybe you haven’t experienced a traumatic event in your life. Maybe, instead, you simply feel incredibly lonely today. Just know, you are not alone, you are enough, you are worthy, you are accepted and you are wanted more than you can ever comprehend by a heavenly father that loves you more than any human ever could.
Confession/Prayer: Father, I accept your love for me. I accept your healing for the wounds I have carried. I release my need to understand all of the hurt, and I receive the strength that you are bringing to my life through these events. Thank you for wanting me and giving me a place to belong.
Day 4
Scripture: Matthew 22:37-40
Day 4: Love God. Love People.
When God maps out the plan for your life, He gives you a specific calling—a way to use the gifts and talents He’s given you to impact the world around you. But in the day-to-day rush of life, it can be easy to lose sight of your true purpose.
So many times I think we overthink our calling and over complicate the Gospel, when really our purpose in this life comes down to two simple things: loving God and loving people.
In Matthew 22, a Pharisee asks Jesus what the most important commandment is. In verse 37, He replies, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” (v. 37-40, NLT)
Jesus lays it out plain and simple.
God is so good to us that the first commandment isn’t very hard. He loves us unconditionally, which compels us to love Him back in return. Now, loving people, that’s a different story.
In today’s world, it can be really hard to love people. There’s so much that threatens to divide us. We see it every day on the news. Violence is at an all time high. The amount of political unrest we’re experiencing over social, economic and racial issues consumes our conversations and our social feeds. Immigration, abortion, sexual abuse, infidelity, and the list goes on and on. It can be challenging to show love to the people we disagree with. It can be even more difficult to love the people who intentionally pick a fight.
But if loving people is equally as important as loving God, then I’d say we need to pay attention. This isn’t a suggestion. This is a commandment. The church should be on the front lines of love. As believers, we must learn how to love our neighbor, despite our differences. We don’t have to agree with someone to love them.
When you don’t know what God’s plan is for your life, you can rest in knowing what God’s plan is for you today. It’s simple. Love God. Love people.
We’re living in a world that keeps breakin’
But if we want to find a way to change it
It all comes down to this
Love God and love people
Confession/Prayer: God help me to see others through your eyes. Help me operate in love and grace toward those who aren’t showing love and grace toward me. Show me your heart. Teach me how to be more like you, and help me fulfill the commandments you’ve given to me.
Day 5
Scripture: Psalms 107:2
Day 5: Tell somebody.
My wife didn’t grow up in a Christian home. To this day, her parents are still not Christians.
When she was 22, a friend invited her to church; and for the first time, my wife heard the Gospel. That day, she gave her heart to Jesus. God immediately changed her life.
Overwhelmed by the beauty of God’s saving grace and the new life she had been given, my wife was admittedly mad. She was angry with her Christian friends. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked them. “I’ve been struggling for so long. I’ve been completely miserable. This is such a better way to live. Why did you never tell me about Jesus?”
I was thinking about my wife’s story when I wrote my song “Tell Somebody.” The first verse is written like a letter to the church when it says, “Dear church, remember me? You have something so beautiful, something that I need… I wish you would have told me.”
Evangelism is an important part of God’s plan. It’s our job as believers to look for opportunities to share the love of Jesus with the people around us. You might not know what someone else is going through, but you can know with certainty that everybody’s going through something. You might not have the full story, but God does; and He can use even a short, honest conversation to change someone’s life.
What if the person sitting beside you in the cubicle at work doesn’t know who Jesus is? What if the waitress at your favorite restaurant needs a healing but doesn’t know the Healer? What if your next-door neighbor has never experienced the life-changing power of Christ?
As the church, it’s our job to tell somebody! Psalm 107:2 (NIV) says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story…” You don’t have to deliver an eloquent speech. You don’t have to be a gifted public speaker. Words don’t have to be your strong suit. All you have to do is share what God’s done in your own life. Your own personal experience with the one true living God!
Simply tell somebody your before and after story. Tell them what your life was like before you met Jesus and how your life changed afterward. Tell somebody how you’ve seen His faithfulness at work in your life. Then you’ll be living out a very important part of the plan God has for you. Watch how walking in this kind of obedience to His word will change your life and the lives of those around you!
Confession/Prayer: Lord, help me be aware of others around me and their need for you. Give me a burden to see my neighbors, co-workers and family members be born again. Help me be bold enough to speak, fill my mouth with words of clarity, truth and wisdom. Teach me to be not only a hearer of your Word, but a doer. Let me see many come to Christ because of what you’ve done in my life.