"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your
ways my ways," declares the LORD.
Isaiah 55:8
Have you ever noticed God doesn't typcially work in the ways you think He's going to? I know this and yet, there must be some egotistical part of me that assumes I have Him all figured out. All the more reason for Him to keep me guessing.
Over the last several months, I have been praying for the Lord to open new doors in our lives. Yes, I pray He leads where He wants to take us, but then I find myself sitting smugly by thinking I already know what He's going to do. I know where we've been before. I know what gifts and talents He can use. I can put two and two together and come up with something closely resembling four. Apparently I have it all figured out...thanks God...got it covered.
Then He begins to lead in different directions. Um, excuse me, I think you meant to open this door over here, but it seems to be shut tightly. If you could just go ahead and unlock it, we'll be happy to go skipping through.
Sorry. Doesn't work that way. Apparently, we don't get to choose the doors. The choice before us is whether we will walk through the ones He presents us with. He seems to open doors that, frankly, I find down right uncomfortable. I don't want to go stumbling out into the unknown. I'd much rather amble along into the familiar. Is that asking too much? Yep, it is.
God is more interested in our character than our comfort. He will purposely move us into uncomfortable situations and new areas of service to bring about the changes He wants to see take place in our lives. Just when you think you have your life figured out, He'll go and shake things up. Who says serving God is boring?
The only thing I can say for sure is I'm not sure what He is doing right now. Guess I really don't have Him figured out afterall. I choose today to trust that whatever doors He opens He has a good reason for doing so. I guess the question is will I skip, or will I stumble? Help me Lord to skip.
It is good to know that His doors and paths for us are more beautiful than the ones we would choose for ourselves! I need that reminder myself- that HE is in control and I can choose to skip. Thanks! :)
I completely understand what you are talking about. We are in a similar boat, waiting on the Lord for doors to open. Thankfully the Lord is a good God, because even when we loose complete control, things turn out ok in the end. It's just hard to wait on Him isn't it? I once heard someone say, "He seldom early but never late."
Tara
What timing your entry has. I have been kicking my feet and crying about some situations in my life. I say that I don't want to deal with this or that. Why should I? this isn't what I planned. And then when I am quiet He whispers to me, that this is His plan to grow me and my life was bought on the Cross and is no longer my own. Being a Christian isn't boring it's death daily, Death to myself and my ideas. Thanks for the reminder that His ways are better. It's about eternity not now-that's what I have to remind myself.
:>Michelle
ps. I got your email. I am going to try and figure it out. We will see if I can do it ;p
Hi there.....thanks for the timely reminder, and for putting into words exactly what my heart knows but has trouble accepting. I pray for the eyes to see the doors He is opening for my family, because I myself automatically assume that He knows the desires of my heart, so He is automatically going to open one of those doors.......yeah right! I want the courage to align my desires to His instead of trying to force Him to align to my desires! You said it so well....
By the way, I tagged you, so you have to go over to my blog sometime and read all the rules, that is, if you want to do it! I'd love to know more about you, even if it is just 8 things!
Hmmm.......well, my 10 yr old daughter is standing here, and she convinced me to not be stingy and selfish, and spread the LOVE, and after you try this recipe, you will love it too!
I will do a special post on my blog today containing the recipe, just because I really LIKE you and because I am TRYING to prove that I am not snooty or selfish, and because everyone NEEDS the recipe! How's that?? Now you have an excuse to visit my blog again, and there should be a couple of new posts on there.
You visited my blog today and asked about the T'shirt and cup. I want to send you a T'shirt just for being so kind and I am going to have a "how to" post in a couple of days on how to paint the mug. E-mail me (diann at paint-puddles dot com) with your information and the size you would like (they run a little small) Small through XL and I will get it in the mail to you. Also, thanks for the great devotion. It's exactly where we are in our lives right now, so you blessed me.
Well, I have to admit, that despite my best efforts, I have been stumbling... I don't like the doors God has opened for me and I have been stumbling a LOT. I am just grateful for his faithfulness to never leave us, even when we are stumbling about.
Somehow I missed this post, looking at the date it was while I was still catching up after not blogging while we were in PA. I'm so glad you linked to it today as it resonates so much with what I was just reading in Proverbs 3. We all love Proverbs 3:5-6 and most of us can recite it with ease, but if you really meditate on it especially the "lean not on your own understanding" part, it really packs quite a punch. And then, verse 7 follows up with, "Do not be wise in your own eyes..." Thinking we know what to do ourselves can get us in a heap of trouble. How blessed you will be as you follow God's leading even as it doesn't make sense to "your own understanding." And He will make our paths straight!
Richest Blessings as you Trust and Obey!
Angel
The daily, sometimes hourly, musings of a homeschooling mom of four surviving on prayer, friendship and lots of Starbucks. Some days my cup runs over and some days it all spills out the cracks...and I wouldn't have it any other way.
