Podcast: Play in new window | Download
This Week’s Devotional Topic
HIS WAYS, NOT OUR WAYS
His ways are not always our ways. God allows and encourages us to learn about Him through His word, prayer, fellowship with other Christians and as we watch Him at work in our lives and this world. While walking through life with Him, there will be times when we will ask the question: why? Lord, why did you allow something to happen or why does it appear that He is delaying an answer to prayer. Think on these things as we read His word and find examples in scripture.
I Corinthians 2:16a For, “Who can know the LORD’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?”
Listen and think about Habakkuk’s complaint found in
Habakkuk 1:2-11 How long, O LORD, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save. Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight. The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted.
The LORD replied, “Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it. I am raising up the Babylonians, a cruel and violent people. They will march across the world and conquer other lands. They are notorious for their cruelty and do whatever they like. Their horses are swifter than cheetahs and fiercer than wolves at dusk. Their charioteers charge from far away. Like eagles, they swoop down to devour their prey. “On they come, all bent on violence. Their hordes advance like a desert wind, sweeping captives ahead of them like sand. They scoff at kings and princes and scorn all their fortresses. They simply pile ramps of earth against their walls and capture them! They sweep past like the wind and are gone. But they are deeply guilty, for their own strength is their god.”
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”.
Isaiah 45:7 I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things.
Psalms 37:23-25 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Proverbs 16:9 We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.
Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
When we ask the Lord why that he allows or directs things to happen in and/or around us He loves us and doesn’t want us to be frustrated. And while we wait and watch for answers and wisdom, He helps our faith in Him to grow. One of my favorite life verses is found in…
Psalms 27:14 Wait on the LORD be of good courage and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
I just heard the bark in the other room. His name is “Clark” and he was standing near our front door. As I went to see what he was barking at, I didn’t see anything. Went outside and still didn’t see what he was trying to get my attention about. The timing of this was more than coincidence. In a crude but simple way, God used that to remind me that He sees and hears everything. Many times, we don’t. I believe that He allowed the dog to bark, just to get my attention. After I came back in the house, I noticed that “Clark” had gone out the doggie door into the backyard. When I went out to check on him, he was running all around the yard with a toy in his mouth. He loves to tease me so that each time I came near him, he would take off running. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. While I had been distracted by potential circumstances out front, he reminded me that things were all right. I could relax and play!
God help us to have faith in what you are doing. To trust, relax because You love us and have it all under control.
This week’s Scripture:
I Corinthians 2:16; Habakkuk 1:2-11; Isaiah 55:8-9; 45:7; 64:1-9; Psalms 27:4, 37:23-25 and Proverbs 3:5-7,16:9
See this week’s playlist
