God’s Way, Not Mine
Ever since Adam and Eve chose to eat the one fruit God commanded them not to eat in the Garden of Eden, all of the human race that has come after them has had the same desire to be in control. All of us, to one degree or another , wants to have control over our own lives. Over the years, I have realized that , concerning myself and others, even the way we pray can reveal our need for control. Often, after we lift the prayer request to God, without our even thinking about it or realizing it, we have told God how and when we want Him to answer our prayer. If we are honest about it and examine ourselves, many will realize that this is true.
The Word of God, in Psalm 18:30a tells us, "As for God, His way is perfect" (whole, sound, complete, having integrity).
Isaiah 55: 8 and 9, " "For My thoughts (plans, purposes) are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. 9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher (to be exalted, elevated) than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."
Then Proverbs 16:25 says, "There is a way that seems right (figuratively, what pleases me, what I approve) to a man, but its end is the way of death."
Yes, since Adam's decision to disobey and not follow God's will and plan in the Garden, man has tried to order his own way. Considering the condition of the world and our nation today, I believe we can realize what the result of that decision has brought about.
Look at how God responded to Job, when he was trying to figure out why the things that happened to him had happened. After much discussion between Job and his friends, God responded to him in Job 38:1-7, " Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: 2 "Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. 4 "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, 7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" and Job 40:1 and 2, " Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said: 2 "Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it." It would be a benefit for you to read Job chapters 38 through 41 to hear all of God's discourse with Job.
God's ways are higher than ours, beyond measure. God knows the beginning and the end. He sees the whole picture, which we cannot possibly see. I believe we see Job's greatest revelation in Job 13:15a when he says, " Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him." In these difficult and uncertain times, we need to realize that we can trust God and His will and way even when we do not understand what is happening.
For many of us, since the days when we first learned and experienced being "independent", we have felt a desire and need to be in control. It is hard for us to let go.
Jesus gave us the perfect example of letting go of our own will in Luke 22:42 when He said, " "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." We see here that Jesus lived His life in total submission to the will of God.
When Jesus was on the mountain teaching the multitudes in Matthew 6, we again see His directive regarding submission to the Father's will when He taught them the manner in which they should pray. Matthew 6:9 and 10. "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven." Then in Matthew 6:33, He exhorts us to ,"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." He did not instruct the people to look out for or take card of themselves first. He said, "Seek first (before anything else is done) the kingdom of God. According to Thayer's Greek Lexicon, Jesus used the phrase "Kingdom of God" to indicate the perfect order of things which He desires to establish (His will), a society dedicated and intimately united to God and made partakers of eternal salvation.
Proverbs 3:5 and 6," Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."
Being devoted to God involves giving daily of yourself, your possessions, your thoughts, your heart and your decisions to the Lord. It implies a continuous intimacy with God -in knowing and being known by Him. Trust God, read the Word of God, pray without ceasing so that you know Him intimately. Acknowledge Him in all you do, and He will direct (make a way straight i.e. causes that his affairs may prosper) your path (used as a metaphor meaning "course of living and acting").
Psalm 119 gives us clear direction to follow in God's way and tells us that His Word will show us the way. Psalm 119:30, " I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me." Reading this verse lets us see that we choose the way that we will follow. Verses 1 through 5 says, "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord! 2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart! 3 They also do no iniquity; they walk in His ways. 4 You have commanded us to keep Your precepts diligently. 5 Oh, that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes!" If we trust His way and seek Him with our whole heart, we will be blessed.
James 1:5-8, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." In relation to our seeking and trusting God's will and way, when we need and ask for His wisdom, we cannot allow ourselves to "sort of" trust His ways. If we are dealing with a particular difficult situation and we ask God for wisdom, if we reject His leading and do what "we think" might work, then we are walking away from His will and following our own. Are we submissive to His will in all things or not?
Psalm 119:105, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
God's Word dynamically assists us in life's circumstances. According to this verse, God's Word lights the way, giving direction for each step we take.
I John 2: 15-17, "Do not love the world ( not the physical creation, but the sphere of evil operating in our world under the dominion of satan) or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." Friends, we cannot allow ourselves to be drawn in and be submissive to our own will nor the will of satan that is found in the world - the lust of the flesh and eyes and the pride of life. And, often, it is oh so easy to be enticed! He who does the will of God abides forever.
I will repeat what I have said many times - we are created in God's image, to be one with Him and to do His will.
The journey from Genesis to Revelation is all about one thing. When God created Adam, there was a unity and oneness, or "one will" that existed. When Adam chose his own way, he fell from that oneness. God's desire and man's journey throughout scripture is that this unity be restored. Can that happen? Yes! The coming and sacrifice made by Jesus Christ is what enables the re-establishment of that unity. However, just as necessary as God's part being fulfilled is that we must choose doing His will over our own.
John 17:20-22, " I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one" Our goal is to choose His will over our own in all situations. Our actions and words are to flow from our heart beating with His. He didn't create us to do our own thing, but to follow Him.
John 5:19, "Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner." In this verse, Jesus demonstrated what a truly perfect man is to be like. Jesus did not act independently of the Father. He always did the will of God.
Hebrews 10:7 and 9, "Then I said, 'Behold, I have come--In the volume of the book it is written of Me--To do Your will, O God.' " ... 9 then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish the second."
Friends, I encourage you to ask God to reveal to you the areas of your life, where you have given in to your fleshly desires or to the enticement of the world's ways or things rather than following the will of God. Repent and ask God to help you to please Him in all that you do! You won't regret it!