I used to do New Year’s Resolutions, they never lasted for me because I wasn’t committed to them. Now I set goals and try to be realistic. But even then, the best laid plans sometimes don’t come to fruition because we didn’t consult with God. I’ve certainly been guilty of that in the past. Sometimes I still fall short, but I digress.
8”For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9”As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9
Life is regulated by circumstances and consequences that can keep us from who we’re supposed to be. The above quote from Isaiah is used to comfort us when nothing makes sense. But is this fair to God? Don’t we have some obligation to align our path with his?
Just thinking about the Bills vs Bengals game from last week. They weren’t even through the first quarter when Damar want down and they had to give him CPR on the field. Nobody saw that coming except for God. He wasn’t surprised at all.
But the impact of seeing people on their knees praying at a packed stadium, that was a sight I will never forget! And you still see stories about Damar’s charity getting an influx of donations. Announcers on air at the time of the incident were struggling to find words to say.
I know that God has a plan and his plan is always best, it just may not be how we want things done. You know what? I think it’s time we start paying attention to what He wants!
But, how do we know what He wants? We pray. We ask what he wants and then we listen and look for his answer. Sometimes he has to knock me over the head to get my attention!
Paul had planned to go to Asia to spread the gospel, but God had a different plan!
6Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
Acts 16:6-7
So the plan changed and after being followed by a slave girl shouting that they were servants of God, Paul finally told the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!”
The spirit left her immediately, but her owners weren’t happy because she could no longer make money for them. When they complained, Paul and Silas were thrown in prison. But, even in this most uncomfortable situation, they continued to praise God and about midnight, the doors of the prison opened when an earthquake shook it. Their chains fell off. The guard was preparing to kill himself, but they told him to stop. The prisoners were all still there. They led him and his household to repentance and they were all baptized.
Despite the situation he found himself in, Paul continued to show love to those around him.
God has plans for everyone. We may find ourselves in a storm, but God still loves us.
What can we do in this circumstance? Become better at praying, pray through the hard times. God is listening. He is near.
Prayer needs to be authentic. We don’t need to fancy it up by using fancy words, just talk like you normally would. Prayer helps us formulate our plans in obedience to God.
Merge what we want with what God wants.
Don’t make yourself the center of God’s plans, make him the center of yours!
- Love God
- Love others
- Live a life of prayer
There’s no better way to start a new year!
Make prayer and reading God’s Word a habit, something you do every day and see what a difference it makes in your life!
In Faith,
Pam
Where God Leads 