Your Daily Crossroad
God’s Ways Can be Hard to Understand
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
I learned these verses in my early years as a Christian. I have heard them quoted often, and I have spoken them many times, either to others or to myself. I am not always sure if they are comforting words or if they are confounding words. Intellectually, I know that God’s thoughts and ways are not like mine. Of course my ways are not like God’s, God is God and I am not. But when I go down a path that seems to make so much sense to me, then out of nowhere, the course dramatically changes: I must admit that I am more confounded than comforted. There are times when we pray for things or people and our prayers are answered just as we prayed them. Then, there are times when we pray and our prayers seem to go unheard, with no answer at all. We can usually handle both extremes because God is God and He can act as He pleases
But what about those times when we pray about something specifically, and we clearly see God’s hand in it? We pray, God leads and we are getting it. We can even see what is coming as God reveals things to us. Our faith is being increased and we are finally gaining some spiritual strength and understanding. Even though the course is tough, we are making steady progress. But… then… out of the blue, something happens that changes our course so drastically that we feel the air has been knocked out of us. All of sudden, we find ourselves in a place of desolation and despair. What happened? It seemed like everything was moving along so well.
It is in these moments that we all must glean a deeper understanding that God’s thoughts and ways are not ours. God does not play by our rules and God is never in a rush. Keep one thing in mind today as you meditate on these verses. Our Lord loves us more than we can ever comprehend and everything He does is in our best interest. His main desire for us is that we are His, totally and completely. Do you feel as though God has abandoned you or maybe has just forgotten about your needs? Ask Him to help you understand more of His ways. Ask Him to open your mind to comprehend the Scriptures. Go to Him, repent if you have un-confessed sin and trust that His higher ways will always be what is best.
As I read this I was reminded of O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. What an example in scripture of today’s verse. They knew in whom they believed and nothing or no one could change that and although they were faithful to God, they were still thrown into the fire but in the midst of the fire God was faithful. God sent a fourth, that was like the Son of God and when they came out of the fire, that is key, they came out, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. Remember this when you are facing a giant, when your path seems unclear, remember, He is faithful that promised! You be faithful to Him and watch how you come out from the fire. He is the same God yesterday, today and forever. If He did it then He can and will do it today!!! Don’t be afraid of the fire, trust Him to walk hand in hand with you in the midst of the fire. He will never fail you!! What a relief that His thoughts are not my thoughts, neither are my ways His ways for He is far greater than I. God’s ways can be hard to understand at times but that’s okay, we don’t always have to understand, we just have to trust Him and His ways.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Daniel 3:13-30
You Are Irresistible!
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. (Acts 6:8,10)
We need to realize how often we affect those around us just by our expressions and attitude. It is amazing to think about how contagious our attitudes and behaviors can be to others. As Christians, we are to be lights in this dark world. We are called to share the good news of Jesus Christ and to proclaim His love, joy and peace to everyone. If we truly have His Spirit, as Stephen did, then we will be irresistible to those listening to us.
Think about your behavior and attitude today as you go about your activities, especially how you express yourself. A smile goes a long way, and there is something contagious about laughter. Before you start your day, stop and ask the Lord to fill you with His wisdom and Spirit. Ask for His joy to be your strength and for His peace to prevail over all of your circumstances. And, if you keep smiling long enough, eventually people will want to know your secret. Then you get to tell them all about Jesus because He is truly the only reason any of us can smile and have real joy.
When I read this it blessed me. We all need to be reminded of this from time to time. Life can get heavy and situation bombard us emotionally and without even thinking we walk around with our candle half light, some of us are so negative and although we truly love God, we are not showing any signs of life, life that God gives us each and every day. We have a reason to say every single day, no matter what we are facing or have faced, this is the day which the Lord hath made; I will rejoice and be glad in it. Make today beautiful!! Let your smile change the world but don’t let the world change your smile.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is 1 Thessalonians 5
It Takes Time to Grow
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. (Ephesians 4:15)
On her first day in preschool, young Charlotte was asked to draw a picture of herself. Her artwork featured a simple orb for a body, an oblong head, and two circle eyes. On her last day of preschool, Charlotte was again directed to draw a self-portrait. This one showed a little girl in a colorful dress, a smiling face with distinct features, and a cascade of beautiful red tresses. The school had used a simple assignment to demonstrate the difference that time can make in the level of maturity.
While we accept that it takes time for children to mature, we may grow impatient with ourselves or fellow believers who show slow spiritual growth. We rejoice when we see the “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22–23), but are disheartened when we observe a sinful choice. The author of Hebrews spoke of this when he wrote to the church: “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat” (Heb. 5:12).
As we continue to pursue intimacy with Jesus ourselves, let’s pray for each other and patiently come alongside those who love God but who seem to struggle with spiritual growth. “Speaking the truth in love,” let’s continue to encourage one another, so that together we may “grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ” (Eph. 4:15).
Lord, we love You! In our walk with You, help us to receive and give encouragement and to speak the truth in love. Amen.
When I read this I was reminded of a sermon I once heard. It is important that we as the children of God always speak the truth in love. How simple and yet so vital, not only to those we face but to our spiritual walk and relationship with God. Words of truth spoken in love can guide us all toward maturity in Christ.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Ephesians 4:11-16
Divine Interruptions
And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. (Luke 18:40-41)
Experts agree that a staggering amount of time is consumed each day by interruptions. Whether at work or at home, a phone call or an unexpected visit can easily deflect us from what we feel is our main purpose.
Not many of us like disruptions in our daily lives, especially when they cause inconvenience or a change of plans. But Jesus treated what appeared to be interruptions in a far different way. Time after time in the Gospels, we see the Lord stop what He is doing to help a person in need.
While Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem where He would be crucified, a blind man begging by the side of the road called out, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Luke 18:35–38). Some in the crowd told him to be quiet, but he kept calling out to Jesus. Jesus stopped and asked the man, “What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee” (vv. 41–42).
When our plans are interrupted by someone who genuinely needs help, we can ask the Lord for wisdom in how to respond with compassion. What we call an interruption may be a divine appointment the Lord has scheduled for that day.
Lord Jesus, fill us with Your wisdom and compassion that we may respond as You did to people in need. Amen.
When I read this I smiled. If anyone knows me, they know I most often have a plan for my days and weeks, I’m a planner. But, as I reflected on this devotion I couldn’t help but recall the many times God has interrupted my day with His plans and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. In the moment I may have felt a bit frazzled and even a little frustrated but He has always used those as opportunities to teach me and to bless me and to show me His mighty Hand at work in my life and in those He unexpectedly places in my life that day. I can’t help but be in awe of His hand at work in my life. It’s important as we go through our day that we allow God’s plans to take precedence over any plans we have because His plans are far greater and far more important than we could ever imagine.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Luke 18:35-43