Most of us like some level of control of our world. We are willing to have God make some adjustments, but rarely do we want to turn everything over to Him.
Why is that? Could it be that we do not trust Him completely? It seems that service to the Cause should be rewarded, but it doesn’t seem to work that way for God’s Team.
Those who follow Jesus still get sick, injured, attacked and even killed. Bad things keep happening to God’s People.
God could intervene, but it seems He doesn’t. One would think His Son would have gotten a little preferential treatment, but He didn’t. Can we trust God with our life?
First thing to know: the life we are living is not “our” life alone. It is The Life breathed into us by God and maintained under His Watchful Eye.
He is watching to see how His Whole Good Plan is coming together. We are not here to claim earth for ourselves. We are here as a part of a God ordained Mission to bring earth people to Heaven.
“For we are God’s Handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:10
Do you believe God’s Promise of a Good Plan for your life?
“For I know The Plans I have for you,” declares The Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, Plans to give you Hope and a Future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
Are you willing to accept that your definition of “good” and God’s Definition of “good” may be different? God actually confirmed that Truth.
“For My Thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My Ways,” declares The Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My Ways higher than your ways and My Thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9
Do you see God’s Promise of a Good Plan through your earthly eyes or your heavenly eyes? Many of us claim to believe Heaven is a wonderful Place and we look forward to going there.
But truth be known, most people would do practically anything to stay on earth. As long as we look at our life as only “our” life, it becomes harder to let it go.
As long as we see death as an end instead of a beginning, we will continue to be preoccupied with how to stay on earth longer.
But when we look through God’s long lens of Eternity, we gain more perspective. Trusting Him becomes easier.
We become more able to face the challenges of this life with steady confidence in The One Who created us to live forever with Him.
Daniel records the story of three young men who were true to their faithful witness of God. The king was not pleased. He sentenced them to die by being thrown into a fiery furnace.
What was their response?
“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, The God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Daniel 3:17-18
They knew their God was able to deliver them. They were totally leaving it up to Him how He would do it.
Either on earth or in Heaven, they knew they would be safe with The One Who knew His Plan for them. They also knew that God had a Plan for the king. They trusted God to carry it out and He did.
You can read the whole story in Daniel, chapter 3.
What does this have to do with prayer? Being still and knowing He is God is preparation for being willing to surrender to His Will.
When we know we are a part of God’s Plan and we know it is a Good Plan because it is a God Plan, we can move forward in whatever circumstance.
In my next post, we’ll talk about the Greatest Prayer of Surrender of all times. We’ll join Jesus in The Garden of Gethsemane.
Are you willing to say with Him, “Not My Will but Yours be done?” That may sound risky, but it’s actually the most secure Prayer you’ll ever pray.
“When you walk through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I AM The Lord your God!”
Isaiah 43:2-3
