“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
Faith is about living our lives God’s ways. It involves elements of radical conviction, trust, and confidence. It’s about compassion, humility and love. True faith is about living our lives God’s way and not our way. For we are incapable of doing anything our way; our lives are entirely up to God.
Who is this God? It is the God whom we have scorned and offended; the God whom we have not trusted; the God we have disobeyed; and the God we have criticized. This God is the only One who can and will deliver us from ourselves.
How do we get to know this God? It all begins with a relationship. We come into relationship through our faith — in Jesus Christ. He wants us to use His strength, His ability, and His power. Why, because God wants to bless us; and God has a purpose for our lives!
Our purpose comes to us from God, no matter what we do. Blessings that flow to us out of the goodness of God’s heart. We don’t even realize — that God is working His great pleasures in our lives. This is why Isaiah 55 says,“My thoughts are not your thoughts — neither are your ways my ways.” Here Isaiah is speaking to the people of Israel. They were constantly seeking — what they felt would satisfy them, and they came up empty — every time! They became frustrated, because they couldn’t see a way forward!
We too are consumed with so much stuff these days. Our life is just filled with frantic schedules running errands, chaperoning children, shopping and all kinds of busyness. And our lives are simply paralyzed by television, mesmerized by the Internet, talking constantly on our cell phones and consumed by video games, Instagram and TikTok.
We even believe that “if we do it our way,” we will find happiness. Instead, we find ourselves running in many different directions, and becoming exhausted and depressed. We find ourselves losing sight of God’s purpose for our lives. We end up losing our way!
God chose ordinary people who don’t think of themselves as being special in any way. And God gave each of us a purpose. All we need to do is through a faithful heart — follow Him and make disciples of Jesus Christ. If we do this, God will bless us— and then move us — a way forward!
Rev. Marion J. Miller is the Senior Pastor of Wesley United Methodist Church, 1201 Thomas V. Bryant Drive, Jeffersonville, Indiana. She may also be contacted at 812-283-3747 or via email at wesley1201@sbcglobal.net.
