Corona Devo 1388

“For my thoughts are not your ,  neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  (9) “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

In a sermon that I listened to during a drive last week, and in a devotional that I read this morning, God made the same point to me: Be flexible....  Our plans are not (necessarily) God's.

Are we listening to what God says?

We make our plans, we set our schedule, we plan the things, we have (specific) ideas of exactly how everything will all play out...(and there can be reward in being prepared and satisfaction in planning for success)...  

But (on a couple levels), God is always teaching (and preparing) us for the "unexpected" changes that can occur, and these (just might) be Him working or re-shifting our focus (back on to Him).

We must be willing to know that it is God who is in control (not us), and we must be willing to submit to His agenda over ours.  And extra credit is given if we will enter in to what God is doing, even in the change of our plans.

What do I mean?  Well...what have you been up to lately?

Let me guess--probably the same things that I have been up to lately: Christmas shopping, wrapping, prepping, listing...  But is all of that (any of that) God's thoughts  or ways for how we should be spending the Christmas season?

Is all of that "stuff" our Christmas plan...or God's?

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.  ~Proverbs 19:21

What is the Lord's purpose for us today?  Be flexible with what God is doing in our lives today.  Odds are, His thoughts and ways are not ours.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  (9) “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

~~~

How many gifts have we bought?  

How many Christmas meal-items have we prepped or baked?  

How many "last" trips to the store or clicks to the "cart" have we made?  

        And what do we (will we) have to show for it?

My sister and her family got none of that kind of Christmas-stuff done this past weekend, because they were at church every day, helping to put-on an outdoor Nativity event to welcome (and teach!) the people in their community about the true meaning of Christmas.  My nephew portrayed Joseph, and my niece was an angel.  They spent time memorizing Scripture instead of looking at the latest trends online or gaming like other kids their age, and their whole family joined with others in reenacting the miracle of Christ's birth for visitors and seekers of all ages.

How many caught a glimpse of the true Christmas account because some were willing to abandon their shopping and wrapping for a weekend? 

How many more people might possibly be in Heaven because these followers-of-Christ decided to give up the "stuff" of Christmas to present the true story of Christmas?

Maybe our plans need to change or shift today.  

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  (9) “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

Are we listening to what God says?  

What are our plans today?  What are God's?

If our plan is to bake, go see Christmas lights, wrap gifts or write cards today...what will any of that matter to God?  

Instead of going to another Christmas party, or shopping, wrapping and storing up more treasures to be placed under the tree...let's be flexible to God's plans: 

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. (20) But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. (21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  ~Matthew 6:19-24

One visiting family quietly thanked the outdoor-Nativity-pastor for sponsoring "the only free" Christmas event in their community.  Well done, Pastor!

Are our plans expensive, self-focused, and temporary today?  

Be flexible to God's thoughts and ways, paving the way to Eternity today....so that he might say, "Well-done" to us one day.  

 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’  ~Matthew 25:21

What might God's plans be for us today, and this Christmas week?

Why don't we ask Him?

And--He's reminding us to be flexible when He tells us/shows us/provides-the-opportunity-for-us to join Him in His thoughts and ways.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  (9) “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

Dear Lord, help us to be flexible in our plans today.  Help us to include You and Your promptings of the Holy Spirit in them.  We want Your Holiday agenda, not ours.  Amen.


Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com 

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