Higher and Better

God's ways are better, His thoughts higher, His purposes deeper, His plans more abundant, His love more perfect, and His character more trustworthy than we could even fathom.

“Afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said to Pharaoh, “This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’” Pharaoh said, “Who is Yahweh, that I should listen to his voice to let Israel go? I don’t know Yahweh, and moreover I will not let Israel go... Moses returned to Yahweh, and said, “Lord...Why is it that you have sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people. You have not rescued your people at all!”

Exodus 5:1-2, 4, 22-23 

Moses journey of serving God did not get off to a great start. The Pharaoh dismissed his requests and rejected him soundly. Is it any wonder that Moses doubted God's plan? The results were not quick and not easy, so Moses thought they must not be right.

Are we different from Moses? Do we not question God and His plans? God, why don't you just answer my prayer, make this or that happen, or do what I am asking? Truth tells us that God's ways are perfect. The way to freedom is through the struggle and the path to testimony involves a test. What are you facing that requires you to trust God's plan and not your own?

“As for me, I will call on God. Yahweh will save me. Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice. He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, although there are many who oppose me...Cast your burden on Yahweh and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.”

Psalms 55:16-19, 22 

David knows that life is full of battles and he has had many enemies. What can we learn from his mindset in the midst of the battles? He sings out that God will save Him, that God hears Him, that God knows him, and that God will sustain him. Do you believe as David did that God sees, hears, knows, and will care for you?

“Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions...the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day...My son, attend to my words...Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.”

Proverbs 4:7, 18, 20-23 

All true wisdom comes from God. Solomon is encouraging us to draw close to God. To hold His words and guidance above all other advice. He says that above all else guard your heart. Why? Why is it so important to guard our hearts? Wisdom says that everything you do, all the activities that make up your life, flow from your heart.

How is your heart today? Have you been guarding it or granting full access to it?

“Turn your ear, and come to me. Hear, and your soul will live...Seek Yahweh while he may be found. Call on him while he is near...For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,” says Yahweh. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts...my word that goes out of my mouth: it will not return to me void, but it will accomplish that which I please, and it will prosper in the thing I sent it to do."

Isaiah 55:3, 6, 8-12

In a world of uncertainty and division, it should bring comfort to our minds, hearts, and souls that we can have God to watch over us, be with us, and love us. Jesus says blessed are the poor in spirit. He says that humility unlocks blessing. Why? Jesus is teaching us that we need less of our or other's thoughts, opinions, and attitudes and more of His. Consider the expanse of the universe and what God is saying here.

He is saying that you cannot possibly comprehend all that I am doing and how I am working. He invites us to learn to just trust that if He can handle the big things like keeping the Earth orbiting the moon, the stars set in place, the oxygen you are breathing, the tides constantly moving, and all the infinite ways in which He orders the universe that maybe we should also learn to trust Him with all the other cares and concerns we have each day.

“One of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say, ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one...I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened."

Luke 11:1-2, 4, 9-10, 28 

How simple, yet how profound is the Lord's prayer. Have you ever personalized the prayer? Substituted Jesus words for your own so you could make it your prayer? Perhaps something like this...

Father, thank you for all you do in my life every day. Thank you for all the ways you have blessed me. You are heavenly and I am of the earth. I praise your Name. Yahweh, Elohim, Emmanuel, Holy is Your Name. Grace is Your Name. Worthy is Your Name. Lovely and Perfect is Your Name. I could praise Your Name all the days of my life and never completely describe how amazing you are Father God. Let your kingdom come. Let me be a part of it. Let me become your hands and feet and show me how I can do your will so that your kingdom comes here and now. Your kingdom is righteous and just. Let your will be done. Your will is always pleasing and perfect. Not my will but your will be done. The will that always seeks to resurrect and restore. Let that will be done. Thank you Jesus for what you did on the cross. Thank you for taking my place and setting me free. Thank you for loving me when I was still far from you. Thank you Jesus for your great love. Thank you for forgiving my sins. I am a sinner in need of a savior. Not one day of my life am I perfect and there is no way I could make things right on my own. Thank you for your grace and forgiveness. I will never hold out forgiveness for others since you have forgiven me. You paid a debt I could not pay. You served the penalty that I owed. You experienced the worst pain imaginable so I can know be best love possible. Thank you for your forgiveness, I would not dare to hold unforgiveness or offense in my heart against anyone after seeing what you have done for me. You know I need help. Every day I am tempted. Tempted to walk away, go astray, or act in delay of the call on my life. There is an enemy to my life and I need help. Protect and strengthen me. Come Holy Spirit come. I need you. I can't do it in my own strength, but with you, Holy Spirit, I can overcome anything. Give me ears to hear Your voice alone and guard my heart from the lusts of temptation that this world offers. I do not want anything on earth that keeps me from walking with you in the heavenly ways. I love you Jesus and I praise your Holy Name my precious Father in Heaven. I give you my heart and all that I have that you would be glorified now and every day of my life.