“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.

Conclusion: Pages 650-669

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

This morning, I completed John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) after reading the conclusion. Here Piper recaps the extent of providence: "God's eternal plan includes everything-from the most insignificant bird (Matt 10:29), to the movement of stars (Isaiah 40:26), to the murder of his Son (Acts 4:27-28).  It includes the moral acts of every soul-its preferences, choices, and deeds. Neither Satan at his hellish worst nor human beings at their redeemed best ever act in a way that causes a revision in God's all wise plan.  Whether God planned to permit something or planned to be more directly involved, nothing comes to pass but what God planned as part of the process pursuing his ultimate goal.  Therefore, the extent of this providence is total."

Piper also shares with us "ten examples of the effects that knowing and loving this providence will have," including how "seeing and savoring this providence: 

1. awakens awe and leads us into the depth of true God-centered, Christ-exalting, Bible-saturated worship."
2. makes us marvel at our own salvation and humbles us because of our sin."
3. causes us to see everything as part of God's design-everything as from him and through him and to him, for his glory."
4. helps protect us from the trivializing effects of culture and from trifling with divine things."
5. helps us be patient and faithful amid the most inexplicable circumstances of life."
6. shows us that the "problem" of God's sovereignty in suffering is more than relieved by the sustaining purpose and power of his sovereignty through suffering."
   
7. makes us alert and resistant to man-centered substitutes that pose as good news."
8. makes us confident that God has the right and the power to answer prayer that people's hearts and minds would be changed."
   
9. shows us that evangelism and missions are absolutely essential for people to be converted to Christ, because God makes them the means of his work in creating saving faith."
   
10. assures us that for all eternity God will be increasingly glorified in us as we are increasingly satisfied in him."

While all I have experience all of these effects to a certain extent, one in particular rings true this morning - #5 and #6. As a father of a special needs child (Dustin), I prayed that God would equip me to be the man, parent, and husband needed not just by Dustin, but by my other child Zach and by my wife Lisa. God's providence has seen to it this prayer has been answered and for the praise and glory of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior!  More often than not, when I encounter challenges and trials, I know God is in control and God loves me, that He will never leave or forsake me, and that His ways are good and perfect...and that I can rest.  

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your thoughts and ways are indeed unknown, but they are perfect and good.  I can rest in knowing this.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such rest and of all the blessings You pour out for me.  My sin continues...selfishness, etc. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day.

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:11-13

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 4:1-13, as I move on to what the commentary describes as the third division "Entering with the Word," which looks at Hebrews 4:11-13.  Here, the commentary calls out how the text in v11 reinforces the exhortation to "strive to enter [God's] rest."  Key to this effort is how we encourage one another daily (see Hebrews 3:12); the commentary shares how corporate worship enables this encouragement: "[t]his is one of the things we do every Sunday in corporate worship when we sit under the preaching of the Word of God. This is what we do when we sing together. This is what we do when we pray together. This is what we do when we fellowship together. We gather in corporate worship to encourage one another to be fully satisfied in Christ and in him alone, lest we fail to enter his rest."  The commentary then pivots to how the text in v12-13 highlights the Word of God and the key role it plays to helps us avoid "falling away." It shares that "[s]ince God is the author of Scripture, it is not a dead book. As God lives, Scripture lives....Thus, Scripture, because it is God’s Word, is alive and life giving. The Bible is not a bunch of dead, lifeless words. It is the living Word of God.  It accomplishes everything God wills. As the Lord says through the prophet Isaiah, 'so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do' (Isaiah 55:11)....The description of the Bible as a sword that can pierce and divide the soul demonstrates the invasive quality of the Word....it is Scripture that reads us. Scripture untangles the human heart and unearths sin like no other book can. No other book can discern the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. Only God’s Word can do that....In conjunction with the Holy Spirit, the Word of God cuts through the sin and darkness of the human heart to restore spiritual health and vitality for Christ. Without the Word, we are as good as dead. God’s Word, however, eradicates the disease of the human heart and breathes life where there is death....Without the Word, we are as good as dead. God’s Word, however, eradicates the disease of the human heart and breathes life where there is death....Scripture strips us bare before our own eyes and before the eyes of God because it exposes God’s ineffable character. As Calvin famously stated, “It is certain that man never achieves a clear knowledge of himself unless he has first looked on God’s face, and then descends from contemplating him to scrutinize himself” (Institutes, I.I.2). God gives us the gift of Scripture so that we will not follow the example of Israel’s disobedience." Worship and commune with your brothers and sisters in Christ, and read/study God's Word! 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who provides the church, my brothers and sisters in Christ, and Your Word, so that I am armed to not fall away...thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of these blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand his plan[.]

Micah 4

But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand his plan[.] v12

I desire to know God....and to please Him.  That is why we exist.  

[The people] are the shoot I have planted,

the work of my hands,

for the display of my splendor.  Isiah 60: 21

Although we will not know all of the thoughts and plans for God, we should strive to know God's thoughts and plans for us.  God has a plan for each of us (Jeremiah 29:11).  

Paul writes in Romans that we can better understand God's will for our lives by "renewing" our mind;

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

Renewing of the mind occurs when we deny ourselves and surrender our lives to Him, seeking Him daily.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. Proverbs 8:34

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23

 

Give us each day our daily bread. Luke 11:3

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love and compassion for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and compassion because I continue in my sin.  I worry...too much.  Please forgive me and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’

Obadiah 1

The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’ v3

Arrogance and pride are dangerous sin...click here for more. In this particular moment, I know I need God, yet there are moments when I act otherwise, or I claim to know that my way is better than God's way.  To be clear we should be certain that our ways and thoughts are not like God's:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

Yet we must come to the point where we consider God's thoughts (the Bible and the Holy Spirit) better than our own.

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. Philippians 3:7-9

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and all good and perfect gifts come from You and You alone!  I am blessed to Know You and for You to have me as Your adopted son.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love as I know I continue to be arrogant and prideful in my life.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their savior.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For the word of God is alive and active.

Hebrews 4

As I continue to study the subject of God's rest and how I enter his rest through faith and obedience, I pause to reflect on the nature of God's word and how it plays a role in my life:

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ¹³ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (verses 12-13)

In hindsight I can see how my study of His word has been a two-way dialogue. 

1. I read God's word and hear God's voice 
2. I reflect on God message for me and I come to Him to "true up" my faith relative to the passage which I have read.

This I believe is what is meant by the judging of the thoughts and attitudes of the heart and the uncovering that must take place.  We come to Him and we find Truth - it is only through Truth that we reveal in ourselves how we fall short.  We must step up - I must step up.

My Prayer: Lord, Your grace is both wide and deep for me - that You love me as You do is amazing given how broken and sinful I am.  I come to You broken and in need of Your love and power.  I ask that you forgive me for my weakness in my faith and for my laziness.  Purify me of thoughts that separate me from You and I ask that You transform my heart and my life.  Help me stay near to You and Your word.  Help me trust and obey.

10 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

Wow...what a great summary of God's love and grace for us!

¹ As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ² in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ³ All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  

In particular, I am struck by how Paul reminds us of God's great gift of grace:

³ All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh^[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Also, I am reminded that it is by God's grace and faith alone, not by works, that we are saved.  Yet even with such a gift we are called to ACT.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

We were created by and for His will and for His purpose.

My Prayer: Lord, how awesome that You are so full of love and grace for me that You have taken all of my sins away and nailed them to the cross...so that I am not enslaved by the shame of sin and as I have read yesterday and today You have created me for Your great and perfect will for Your service AND You have given me the SAME power that raised You from the dead!  How incredible is all of this!  Yet Lord, I don't often enough appreciate this so PLEASE once more forgive me for my neglect, dumb-headedness and sin.  Please refine me, purify me Lord, and transform both my heart and my life to be more like You.  Lord, also help me exercise the great power You have given me through Your Spirit and MOVE me to do the good works which You command me to do.

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

1 Corinthians 3

 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?  If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. v16-17

We are to be good stewards with what God has entrusted to us.  I am also reminded of the following verse.

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.  Luke 12:48

My Prayer: Lord, I know You have blessed me with time, treasure and talents and I am blessed with how You provide...more than abundantly.  I am not worth such blessing.  I am selfish, quick to anger, slow to listen, harsh with my words, thoughts and actions, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway Jesus but please forgive me for such sin and help me turn from such sin towards You instead.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and ever day.

When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.

Psalm 73

When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. v16-17

Asaph, author of this Psalm, sees wickedness in the world around them and he wonders why God allows such wickedness to persist.  This is a thought we often have and we must understand that God sees everything (see post here) and He is and will be the perfect judge.  We should take comfort that all will be judged "according to what they have done".  In our daily life, we must also recognize that God's thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

We should concern ourselves with how others should be dealt with - we should know that God knows all and all will be judged.  This frees us to focus on our relationship with God - of primary importance in our lives.

My Prayer: You alone and Your glory is worthy of my attention and focus.  I know I exist to glorify You.  You are worthy of my efforts and I am prayerful that I can be Your servant.  Thank You Jesus for Your love and for choosing me to be Your child.  I am not worth such love as my sin continues and I am broken.  I get angry too quickly and I worry about my children - folly!  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless....

Psalm 18

As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless....v30

In this Psalm, God is accurately described as strong, constant, protection, deliverer, powerful.  Of course all of these are true and more.  Yet for me this morning, what strikes me is verse 30 which describes God as perfect and of course He is...in His designs, thoughts, works, actions, justice, etc.

Often times, particularly in the moment, we can't understand God's thoughts or His ways but we CAN understand that whatever He is doing it is perfect, for our good and His glory.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God and You are perfect in all ways.  You have blessed me well beyond what I deserve.  I fail to dispense grace and love as You have poured out on me.  Thank You for the many blessings You provide but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin, and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way[.]

Psalm 37:23 and Proverbs 3:5-6 

 The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way[.] Psalm 37:23

I pause my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon - to examine text used by my Friday morning men's group: Psalm 37:23 and Proverbs 3:5-6 - text that describes how our lives' direction (both short and long term) should be based on His guidance.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Psalm 37:23 shares that the literal and figurative steps of a man are "established by the Lord," meaning God brought the steps into existence.  It also means that the steps, movement and arc of our lives are all under the sovereign direction of God.  Indeed all of humanity is God's creation and He reigns over all the details of our lives - there is no happenstance and God's plans cannot be thwarted (see also Job 42:2, Proverbs 19:21).  Proverbs 3:5-6 describe how God makes our paths straight IF we acknowledge Him.  This acknowledgement must include a surrender to Him as our Lord (He reigns and we exist for His glory) and Savior. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Key to Psalm 37:23 is the back end of the text "when he delights in his way."  This refers to how God directs our steps based on our delight of Him.  Man (including believers who are tempted and fall into temptation) can delight in Satan's ways.  This is a very deep topic worthy of further exploration and the debate is over the extent to which people truly have free will and what is the extent of human responsibility.  See this resource on this debate.  While there is some mystery on this question one thing IS clear - that God's ways and thoughts are not our own (Isaiah 55:8) BUT God will renew our minds to align with His thoughts and ways if we delight in Him and seek Him through daily study and meditation on His Word (see Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:22–24).        
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We are to avoid seeking our own glory and avoid planning outside of God's wisdom and direction. Claim the promise that God will renew our minds so that we can align with His desires. Seek, love and trust Him. 

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that reveals Himself to me and renews my mind to align with Your thoughts, ways, and desires so that I can more like You and please You.  Thank You Jesus for these blessings and also for my salvation. I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

 

But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.

Genesis 8

But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded. v1

In Genesis 6, God finds favor with Noah and commands him to build and ark that will be used to save Noah, his sons and their wives and two of every kind of creature on earth. He makes a covenant with Noah, and in Genesis 7, the earth is wiped clean of all sin by a flood brought by God. In Genesis 8, God demonstrates His faithfulness by ending the flood and placing Noah and His family on dry ground.

God is in control - He reigns.  We may find ourselves in circumstances that we don't understand but God knows what is good for us and He has a plan - one that is much bigger than us and it is perfect.

God's timing 
God's thoughts 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

My Prayer: Lord, Your ways are just and perfect and You know everything about me, yet You still came to suffer and die...to save me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such an act of sacrifice.  I am selfish, lazy, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For no word from God will ever fail.

Job 38-42

For no word from God will ever fail. Luke 1:37

Day 260 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with my study of Job as God takes His turn to address Job. Ultimately, Job responds, repents, as does his friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar.  Job prays to God and is not just simply restored, but God "blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part" (Job 42:12). 

While my commentary* acknowledges the mystery of of why Job suffers as he does, it aptly summarizes key takeaways for us: "[f]irst, although it is not always readily noticeable, the wicked will one day come to judgment. Second, the notion that suffering is always the result of sin is totally destroyed. And finally, man is in no position to justify his own situation by accusing God of injustice. As Job himself points out, these theological niceties are not likely to stop the tears of one who is languishing in captivity, or suffering persecution, or writhing in pain from a cruel disease. But they do challenge God’s people in exile to recognize with humility the sovereignty of God, and to trust that in his wisdom there truly is a time and purpose for all things, including adversity and suffering. Whether or not it is apparent, God is working in the life of each individual, as well as in the lives of nations, to bring his people into a closer relationship with him, and thereby into greater harmony within themselves and with each other."

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

Indeed, Isaiah similarly acknowledges that God's thoughts and ways are a mystery to us.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

Yet in the midst of mystery, God is a God of promises, of certainty, as He is Our Rock and our firm foundation. John Piper offers this post on how we can know the Gospel is true.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, who is always with me, and One who is my firm foundation - my rock.  I know I can build my life and faith on You.  I am grateful for the faith You have provided.  I am not deserving.  My sin continues.  Harsh words, actions, pride, worry, etc. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help my love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 16 of Advent, and today John Piper shares how God orchestrates and uses setbacks to reveal and unfurl His glory and fulfill His plan.  We can't see all of what God is doing or thinking (Isaiah 55:8) as God's thoughts and ways are not our ways. Yet believers see God's hand in the Bible and in our own lives as He uses adversity and setbacks as part of His plan.  In the Bible, of course Jesus came as a baby, lived a sinless and perfect live, but suffered and died on the cross as the final sacrifice for all of humanity's sins for all times.  The Bible is full of such winding roads and setbacks to His glory.  Piper uses the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis as one of many examples.  Joseph became a slave, then a prisoner, before his dreams/vision became a reality.  We are urged to see how God exalts those who pick up their cross and follow Jesus - by suffering as Jesus did. Piper wraps up today's devotion by stating:"[a]nd this is God’s way for us too. We are promised glory — if we will suffer with him as it says in Romans 8:17. The way up is down. The way forward is backward. The way to success is through divinely appointed setbacks. They will always look and feel like failure. But if Joseph and Jesus teach us anything this Christmas it is this: What Satan and sinful men meant for evil, “God meant it for good!” (Genesis 50:20)." 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your ways and thoughts are not my own, but I can trust that You are good, faithful, and You work all things for good. Thank You Jesus. I am not deserving of how You are good to me.  My sin is great and it continues....daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from and overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

You do not have, because you do not ask.

James 4

You do not have, because you do not ask. James 4:2

Based on a discussion with a good friend and brother in Christ, I sought greater clarity on core questions of prayer, including the extent to which God hears and responds to prayer.  This morning I had doubt about how God does respond to prayers given I agree with John Piper's view - expressed in his book Providence - on how God is sovereign over all details in life.  I could not reconcile how God could change course on any aspect of how He is sovereign, as I have often read about how nothing can stop God's will from coming to pass.

This post from DesiringGod.com helps resolve much of my doubt.  Key to this post are distinctions made between God's will of command and His will of decree. While we can, particularly over time as we grow in our understanding of His Word, understand God's will of command as scripture lays this out for us to understand, we can't grasp God's will of decree (certainly not in advance!). There is also often tension between these two wills - for example as the post uses do not murder as an explicit command from the Ten Commandments as an example of God's will of command.  Yet at the same time, we see how Jesus was murdered as being an example of God's will of decree.  It is not for today for me to unpack and reconcile how God's will may be in conflict in terms of what He commands and what He decrees.  The core focus for my examination today is to look at whether God responds to prayer and the extent to which perhaps God adjusts His course in the context of His will of decree. 

Piper writes the following on the question of whether prayer is pointless:

"A common response to this conclusion is that it seems to make prayer pointless, because answered prayer happens only when God has decreed that something be done. Wouldn’t the decreed event happen anyway? So why pray?

But that kind of response does not come from careful biblical thinking. Careful thinking would see that God really does things in response to prayer. “You do not have, because you do not ask” (James 4:2). God wills that events be caused by prayer. And careful biblical thinking would also see that, just as God decrees effects, he also decrees the causes of those effects. As he decrees ends, so he decrees means. As he decrees that a straying saint repent and return, so he decrees the prayers that bring him back.

Prayer is a real cause of real events in this world. God has willed it to be so. And so it is."

Piper's post also offers thoughts on how we should pray: out of humility, out of recognition that we make mistakes, and how we should pray using words "if it is Your will." 

I am encouraged to pray - and we all should be.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion - I know You hear my prayers, and I know that You respond to prayers - thank You Jesus for never leaving or forsaking me and for encouraging me to bring my prayers and burdens to You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and sposues to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!

Psalm 139

¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand[.]

While this Psalm is most often discussed in the context of how God from our very birth and even before, has great plans for us and that we should never doubt this.  Today's reading says to me and reveals to me the extent to which God thinks of me...a sign of the depth and breadth of His love for me.  That God's thoughts of me outnumber the grains of sand...that is an amazing amount of love!!

My Prayer: Lord, wow!  I don't think I have ever understood the depth and breadth of Your love in such terms!  I am amazed that You think of me and love me so much...I am not deserving of such love.  I am lazy, mean, selfish, and prideful.  I thank You for the love You have for me and I need it NOW.  I pray Lord Jesus that You forgive me for my sin today.  Purify and refine me - transform both my heart and my life Lord Jesus.  Help me be more like You.  Help me recognize Your love for me so that I can more fully love You with all of my heart, soul and mind.

But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. v20-21

Genesis 39

But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. v20-21

This may not have been the escape Joseph sought when he ran from Potiphar's wife (see post yesterday) yet God has a plan for all of us and it is good (Jeremiah 29:11).  Plus, God's thoughts and ways are not our own - we may not know or understand what He is doing but we can trust in Him.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.     Isaiah 55:8

I've seen how God works (for my good and His glory) in my own life and am amazed.

We know from Genesis 41 that Joseph is put in charge of all of Egypt - God has a plan indeed for Joseph.

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God who has a plan - and it is great.  I don't know Your plan but I trust in You.  Thank You for how You have blessed and protected me.  I am not worth such love because I often don't have faith or trust....and I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome such sin and turn from it towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

1 Corinthians 3

The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. v8-9

I've been praying regularly that I grow in Christ.  God wants us to be good stewards of what He places in our care, whether these are money, skills, children, etc.  

Paul writes to the church in Corinth:

I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. v2

The implication is that we NEED to be ready...we should be growing.  I am also thinking of the Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25:14-30.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God in that You give all of Your children an abundance of provision so that we may grow.  This provision comes in many forms, the Holy Spirit, the Bible, the church, brothers and sisters in Christ, etc.  What a great God that You provide in such abundance!  I am not worth such abundance...I am selfish, harsh with my thoughts, words and actions.  I am quick to anger and slow to listen...I am impatient, prideful, etc.  The list goes on and on.  Thank You that You love me anyway Jesus but please forgive me...help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God.

Ecclesiastes 9

But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Ecclesiastes 9:1

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus this morning is Ecclesiastes 9 and how the takeaway of this text relates to the first division of the commentary: God Has a Design for Everything. As a segue from chapter 8, where I posted yesterday how God's thoughts and ways are not the same as ours, and how we should seek God and the Holy Spirit to better understand our circumstances, this morning in chapter 9 - right away in v1 - we are reminded that our lives are in God's hands.  See James 4:13-16 and how we should approach God with humility knowing that our lives are in God's hands. We should then understand that we exist to glorify God and that we should strive to understand God's will for our lives - see Romans 12:2 and lean hard into God and His Word and seek renewing of Your mind.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO SO good! ...in all things and at all times.  Thank You Jesus for Your goodness, blessings, and for my salvation - my cup overflows and I am not deserving...not one bit.  My sin continues today and it will tomorrow and until I meet You face to face and what a glorious day that will be.  I don't know what my life holds but I know that You hold me in Your hands, I am sealed forever, and that You are saving a place for me in Heaven.  Amazing grace indeed.  Help me love You and worship You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Please continue to heal Lisa from cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.    

“What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

Mark 7:1-23

 “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” Mark 7:20-23

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 7:1-23.  Excerpts from the third (of  three) division (vv14-23):

• The title for the third division is: "Legalists Are Confused Concerning the Source of Defilement, Resulting in a Lack of True Understanding."
• "The most deadly contamination is not what I touch. The most deadly contamination is what is in my heart." 
• "When His disciples ask the meaning of this parable, Jesus once again (cf. 6:52; 8:17-18) chides them for their lack of understanding. This is one of the most critically important spiritual lessons in the whole Word of God. Jesus explains that corruption is not external but internal. Impurity is not a matter of the stomach but of the heart. Defilement is not what goes in but what comes out." 
• "The basic problem of fallen humanity is not what we do but who we are! Real filth, impurity, and defilement are inside and unseen, but eventually they will show themselves, as verses 21-23 make clear." 
• "Inevitably, sin’s root will produce sin’s fruit. And it is an ugly, destructive crop to behold. Jesus provides a selective list of sin’s fruit." 
• "There are basically only two approaches to religion, each of which can be summed up in a single word: do or done. The world says the problem is out there, and the solution is to answer the question, What can I do? The Bible says the problem is inside of us, and the answer is what Christ has done! You see, in legalism we think better of ourselves than Jesus does. But in salvation we think the same of ourselves as Jesus does: we are hopeless, helpless sinners in desperate need of a Savior." 
• We are referred to 1 Samuel 16:7 where Samuel is seeking God's anointed king to replace Saul who has lost favor in God's eyes.  In David, God seeks and finds a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14).

I have seen first hand how God has entered my heart and changed me from the inside out - into more of His own image.  What an incredible blessing it is to be saved and one of God's elect.  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  God also gave me a desire to know and pursue Him.  Thank You Jesus!  An answer to prayer indeed!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, thank You for my salvation, thank You for giving me a desire to know and pursue You, and thank You for the blessing of growing in my heart and transforming me into more of Your image.  I am not deserving of any of this!  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  I also know there is more work to do and that You are not done with this transforming work.  Please keep going and use me - fully.  Help me grow in my faith.  Please give Lisa and myself wisdom and energy.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

Luke 23

He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will. v25

While all of the gospels (Matthew 27, Mark 15, John 19) include the account of Jesus before Pilate, only Luke includes this language that Pilate "surrendered Jesus to their will" and my focus is on use of the word "will" because typically this word is used to describe God's will for our lives and how we can determine and follow God's will for our lives.  

I started this morning by looking for the Greek words of the text - found here which indicates the Greek word used here for "will" is θέλημα (pronounced thay-lay-ma-ti).

When "will" is used in the context of people following their "own" vs God's will for their lives - it implies either a weak personal or no personal relationship with Jesus as the definition for will includes following a human "desire" or "pleasure" vs finding joy and fulfillment through Christ.

There is NOTHING in this world that can fill the holes in our heart that ONLY Jesus can fill.

I have previously posted on God's will for our lives and used Romans 12:2 to illustrate how daily study of God's Word serves to renew our minds and direct our thoughts towards God.

John Piper has an OUTSTANDING post on this topic.

Dallas Willard should also be considered.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has transformed my heart, mind and life - thank You Jesus for doing a work in my life!  I know You are not done and I need more of You in my life - my sin of course persists!  I worry, etc. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.