My favorite fairytale is “Puss in Boots.” It’s a story of a poor young man whose only inheritance from his father was a cat. But this was no ordinary cat—he had plans.

After his father’s death, the poor young man wasn’t sure what his future would be. With only one cent and a scrawny cat to his name, he had no hope for tomorrow. But, this cat had plans. He urged the poor young man to give him the penny and promised to catapult his life to wealth and station beyond his wildest dreams.

Risking everything, the poor young man agreed. Clutching a promise, he hopelessly watched his last penny and a scrawny cat vanish into the distant. Penny in paw, the cat went to the city returning days later with fine clothes including an extraordinary hat and fabulous boots, hence the title of the fairytale, Puss and Boots. And this was only the beginning—this cat had plans.

This fairytale reminds me of Jeremiah 29:11, which says “For 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.”

Claim God’s Promises

God has plans that we can’t fathom or imagine. He thinks about us. His plans include a future filled with hope and prosperity. We may not be able to see everything today, but just as the poor young man, God calls for us to trust Him, surrender, and walk by faith.

Truth is, God’s plans work kind of like the story of Puss in Boots. When the poor young man had surrendered all he had, the cat’s plan started to take shape. Once surrendered, the young man had to continue to follow the cat’s guidance unaware of what would happen next.

If the young man had turned away at any point in the cat's plan, he never would have experienced the fulfillment of the cat's promise—to catapult his life to wealth and station beyond his wildest dreams.

God promised to provide for us. He has already given each of us special gifts, talents, and resources. Everything needed to walk in our greatest potential is already available. God's plans, however, aren’t activated until we surrender. Once surrendered, we must continue in fellowship with God so that we're close enough to hear His voice, follow His lead, and walk into all that He has in store.

Claim God’s Promises: Follow God’s lead. God doesn’t sleep and Jesus isn’t dead.