Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you—the sure mercies of David. Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people, a leader and commander for the people. Surely you shall call a nation you do not know, and nations who do not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and the Holy One of Israel; for He has glorified you. Isaiah 55:3-5
So many times, I find myself falling back into the pattern of directing my own daily life. For example, last Saturday morning, I awakened with a plan. My “to-do” list crowded my mind –even though it was a GOOD list. It was what I considered a GOD list. But there was a problem—it was MY list—not HIS. You see, I have a tendency to take over God’s work and do it in my own strength and in my own timing.
My friend, I’ve observed the huge difference in the quality and quantity of work I do when it is done GOD’s way and in HIS timing—instead of MINE.
God is teaching me to incline my ear to Him in all things—at the beginning of the day. I may have a plan rolling around in my mind that reflects my desire to do God’s work. But God has never failed to show me that even my “God-plans” are always better—when done His way. The Bible reminds us:
Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. Psalms 37:3-5
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. Psalms 37:23
The God of all creation invites me to be led by His Divine wisdom and in His supernatural strength. It is nothing other than presumptuous pride that motivates me to begin any project without God in the driver’s seat. Isaiah reminds me:
Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says 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 55:6-9
When we are born-again believers, we have an extraordinary invitation from Almighty God to enter into a daily relationship with Him at the helm. But even children of God still struggle to allow Him to take control, because enemies are constantly prowling around. Honestly, having lived in both situations—either with Him in charge of the ministry, or with me in charge—there is absolutely no comparison. God is more effective and efficient than I could ever be! But, the biggest difference I experience is His extraordinary peace. God’s peace surpasses our comprehension.
