by David Brenneman
"For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9.
Rarely does God do something exactly as we think He will. Moses experienced this as he learned how God was going to deliver the Hebrews out of Egypt. God told him He would harden Pharaoh's heart. Yet, the result was not what Moses anticipated. Rather than allowing the Hebrews to leave, Pharaoh increased their hardship. Rather than becoming a hero among the Hebrews, Moses was despised by them for bringing greater suffering. Moses returned to the Lord and asked, "Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me?" (Exod. 5:22). Much of the frustration we experience as Christians has nothing to do with what God does or doesn't do. It has everything to do, rather, with the false assumptions we make about how we think God will and should act.
Have you ever done the will of God and then things seemed to become worse? Moses completely misunderstood what the results of His obedience to God would be. When things did not turn out as he anticipated, Moses became discouraged. God had told Moses what to do, but He had not told Moses what the consequences would be. It is foolish to attempt to do God's work using your own "common sense,' God does not eliminate
your common sense; He consecrates it. He gives you His wisdom so you can understand His ways.
As you look back on God's activity in your life, you will recognize the supreme wisdom in how He has led you. As you look forward to what God will do, be careful you do not try to predict what He will do next. You may find yourself completely off the mark.
- Experiencing God Day-by-Day Devotional Blackaby and Blackaby
Read that particular Scripture again.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9.
Now:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.
And:
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalms 23:1-6.
Then this...
"Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him." John 14:23.
How often do the things that have both benefited you and those that haven't appeared to made no real sense in the moment as to how they fit in your ideas of living life?
There in is our own understanding gone awry. The study book that Pastor John MacArthur did on Job has been really rewarding in helping me to understand just where Job's friends went wrong and where Job wasn't entirely right in his perception of things.
Someone once told me that whatever people perceive, that is their reality.
We need a more accurate perspective to achieve the right perception in Christ.
What we see as adversity isn't. It's time spent in God's Spiritual Growth Class 101. When others don't get it but we are trusting in our Teacher through it...this too is our trusting in our Teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ through His Spirit.
I quoted this to a friend yesterday about someone else but it can apply to people who go through life without ever trying to see that everything must be viewed from God's perspective on personal life and on how that personal life is to be among those in our lives: "There are none so blind as those who will not see".
We cannot go through life and achieve what God views as success without only coming at life from His perspective.
Likewise we will never really live lives as He intends for us unless we are all-in with living for Jesus with our everything, including how we think, speak or act in everything.
This is to include our thoughts and dreams for what our lives are to look like.
We are to live lives seeking that "Well done!" from Jesus when we stand before Him to give an account of our lives before Him.
A life given to anything else will be burned up with nothing to show for Christ.
We are to live transformed lives. We're to learn to live in the character of Christ.
There are no separate compartments within us, this area for our dreams, wants and desires and another for Jesus. Whether it's business or personal there is no separation.
If you're not understanding but are still trusting then you're getting it.
Right now I am living day-to-day in that moment. I am still unemployed yet employed by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Doing whatever He has in mind for me to be doing until the new job He has in mind for me is ready.
I wronged no one when my career took a turn into the unexpected. I was obeying God when I befriended someone. God's blessings have confirmed that indeed I did the right thing in my obedience in the moment. From a worldly perspective I didn't do right by others and was dealt with. God will be and is my Advocate. Perspective.
Our perceptions are based on our perspective and we need to learn God's perspective to correct our perceptions. We need committed time in both prayer and the Word of God to know and understand this new perspective. We're not going to understand simply by osmosis.
And even with that...we yet still might not be granted understanding. We aren't promised that we would understanding everything. We are instructed to obey regardless.
When Ananias was sent to Saul of Tarsus to open his eyes...his own understanding was really hitting a wall. He confirmed his perspective and yet chose to obey regardless. Ananias opened the door for Saul to become Paul and turned on the career of Paul as an Apostle of Jesus Christ. He had no idea what his simple obedience in going to this man was about to unleash into the Gentile world.
We don't know what real impact we are having or will have for the kingdom of God unless we learn to obey and do as the Spirit directing us says to obey and do. Even if and especially if we don't understand it.
I cannot rely on my own understanding of my current situation. I know not what spiritual battles are being fought on my behalf. I know not what but I know who does. My hope is in my Savior and whether or not my understanding is there...He is still on the Throne and is still King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is still my Advocate before the Father. He still is my Savior. His love for me is never-ending. My name is written on His hands. I am ever before Him. These things that I remember and keep reminding myself of are what's shaping my right perspective.
You too my Dear Reader need a right relationship with Jesus to have a right perspective on life.
Don't dwell on your own understanding when things are appearing to be going well or when they give you the appearance of not going well.
God's ways are higher than your ways. His thoughts than your thoughts. Only by living for Jesus in all that you do, say and especially think are you going to start gaining the proper Godly perspective and perception that is found only through obedience.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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