God's Thoughts

Scripture:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 58:8,9).

How do you know what thoughts are your thoughts versus God's thoughts? One of the great paradoxes of walking with God is discerning the difference between a "natural idea" versus a "God-idea." One of my mentors challenged me one day to make sure that my ideas and the actions I take are directed by God and not from my own reasoning. But being in a marketing profession, there is a constant rub between the "natural" and the "spiritual."

There are four places from which a thought or idea originate: 1) Our natural man, 2) Satan 3) the World, and 3) The Holy Spirit. There are a few ways to discern from which place a thought is coming. If a thought comes into your mind that you know you would never have thought of, and it might be something you would not normally consider doing. This is likely God speaking.

I went participated in a conference when an offering was being taken to make up for a poorly organized event that left the organizers very short on funds. It was clearly a case of poor management. Nevertheless, I prayed. I assumed I would give a token gift. However, the figure that suddenly came into my mind was $1,000. I debated and struggled in my mind. But I obeyed - as I knew that was not my idea. Planting this seed also resulted in our receiving a blessing of a $10,000 raise in my wife's salary less then 30 days after that.

In order to be obedient, we must not make advance decisions about a particular matter. Each of our decisions must be submitted to the Lord for His counsel to us, not just based on our reasoning and when we know God's will it is imperative the we obey.

(adapted from TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman 06-12-2008)

Request:
That God would move in the hearts of those here in Spain who desparately need Christ and that the evangelism team would continue speak boldly for Christ.

Prayer:
Lord, everyday is yours and yet we are always making our plans. Forgive us Lord and remind us Holy Spirit to listen attentively to your voice so we always do your will and please you.