Instead of thinking of God's will in terms of a plan, let's shift gears and look at it in terms of a legal will. Legally, a will is a statement of a person's wishes concerning the disposal of his property after death. God has a will like that. It is called the New Covenant. 

He first announced the specifics of this will through the prophet Jeremiah some 600 years before the time of Christ. Before it could take effect, however, the one who made it had to die, "because a will is in force only when somebody has died" (Hebrews 9:17).

Some 600 years later, Jesus stood before his disciples, raised a cup and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood..." (Luke 22:20). The next day Jesus died. The long-awaited new covenant was now in full force. So when did the new covenant begin? At the cross. Jesus' death changed everything.

Now, as wills go, it's not very long - only four provisions.

• I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.
• I will be their God, and they will be my people.
•  No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying "Know the Lord," because they will all know me, from the least to the greatest.
• I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.

Don't underestimate the far reach of these promises where your life in Christ is concerned. These contain everything you need for life and godliness.