From InTouch Ministries
Read | Isaiah 55:8-9
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."
When adversity hits you like a ton of bricks, it could easily throw
you into a pit of discouragement and despair. Although you may consider
difficulties as setbacks, the Lord sees them as times for great
advancement. His purpose for allowing them is not to destroy you but to
stimulate your spiritual growth. In His great wisdom, the Lord knows
how to take an awful situation and use it to transform you into the
image of Christ and equip you to carry out His will.
Every adversity that comes into your life is sifted through God's
permissive will. That doesn't mean the difficulty itself is His perfect
will, but He's allowed the trial to touch you so that He can use it to
accomplish His wonderful purposes for your life. Although some of the
suffering we see and experience seems senseless or blatantly evil, we
must recognize that we have a very limited perspective and cannot
always understand what the Lord is doing.
Our heavenly Father sees every aspect of life, but our view is
restricted to what is right before us. His plans include not only you
but all of His creation, and they reach from the beginning of time to
eternity future. Though we'll never grasp the infinite mind of God, we
can know His faithfulness and love.
When you can't understand God's ways, focus on His perfect
knowledge, wisdom, and power rather than the magnitude of your sorrow.
Remember, He sees the entire picture and loves you more than you can
imagine. This is a time to walk by faith, as perfect understanding
comes only in heaven.
It is so difficult to see God during our trials. This devotion reminds us that God's hand is in everything we experience. Everything happens for a reason and it is comforting to know that God can see the big picture even though we can't.
Showing posts with label isaiah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label isaiah. Show all posts
6.28.2012
The Adventure of Obedience
Source : Intouch Ministries
Isaiah 30:21 (One of my favorite verses!)
Your own ears will hear him.
Right behind you a voice will say,
“This is the way you should go,”
whether to the right or to the left.
Christians sometimes approach obedience as a way of avoiding the negative consequences of disobedience. They see obedience as a burden, not as the road to blessing.
But God intended our walk of faith to be a great adventure, motivated by our love for Jesus Christ. Obedience is about expressing our love for and trust in God, not about avoiding unpleasant consequences. That is why John can say, “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).
When we place our trust in the omnipotence of the Lord and act on His prompting, life becomes worthwhile and purposeful. We need not be afraid of the future because God already knows the outcome of our obedience—and we can trust in His promise that He works everything out for our good (Rom. 8:28). Although we may not understand how, we are confident that the Lord is continuously moving us through a variety of circumstances toward His overriding purpose for our lives. However, if we fail to obey Him because of a mistaken desire for safety, we reject the opportunity for God to demonstrate His awesome power in us.
Small choices to submit to God’s will may seem insignificant, but they lead toward a lifetime of walking with Him. And as His children, we should ask Him to lead us each day. “What would You have me say here, Lord?” or “What is the best decision now?” We must learn to listen to our heavenly Father and remain sensitive to the quiet voice that prompts us throughout the day. Isaiah says, “Your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left” (30:21).
When we keep our minds focused on Him, we begin to understand the significance of our decisions and how He is guiding us along the adventurous path of His will. Ultimately this awareness will lead to a fulfilling, meaningful life of walking with the Lord and receiving His best for us.
As you look at the day ahead of you, what is your next step of obedience? No matter how He directs you, trust Him and do exactly as He says. You’ll be glad you did.
The Adventure of Obedience
By Dr. Charles StanleyIsaiah 30:21 (One of my favorite verses!)
Your own ears will hear him.
Right behind you a voice will say,
“This is the way you should go,”
whether to the right or to the left.
Christians sometimes approach obedience as a way of avoiding the negative consequences of disobedience. They see obedience as a burden, not as the road to blessing.
But God intended our walk of faith to be a great adventure, motivated by our love for Jesus Christ. Obedience is about expressing our love for and trust in God, not about avoiding unpleasant consequences. That is why John can say, “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).
When we place our trust in the omnipotence of the Lord and act on His prompting, life becomes worthwhile and purposeful. We need not be afraid of the future because God already knows the outcome of our obedience—and we can trust in His promise that He works everything out for our good (Rom. 8:28). Although we may not understand how, we are confident that the Lord is continuously moving us through a variety of circumstances toward His overriding purpose for our lives. However, if we fail to obey Him because of a mistaken desire for safety, we reject the opportunity for God to demonstrate His awesome power in us.
Small choices to submit to God’s will may seem insignificant, but they lead toward a lifetime of walking with Him. And as His children, we should ask Him to lead us each day. “What would You have me say here, Lord?” or “What is the best decision now?” We must learn to listen to our heavenly Father and remain sensitive to the quiet voice that prompts us throughout the day. Isaiah says, “Your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left” (30:21).
When we keep our minds focused on Him, we begin to understand the significance of our decisions and how He is guiding us along the adventurous path of His will. Ultimately this awareness will lead to a fulfilling, meaningful life of walking with the Lord and receiving His best for us.
As you look at the day ahead of you, what is your next step of obedience? No matter how He directs you, trust Him and do exactly as He says. You’ll be glad you did.
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