By Jerry D. Ousley
“God is a God of love,” says one. “God knows who I am and completely understands me,” remarks another.
The fact of the matter is, we think we have God all figured out. We have outlined the Bible, listed his characteristics and attributes, His appearances to man in human form (which we call theophanies), and think we know all about God.
We tell others that God works by formulas and that if we will just follow the pattern that we can increase attendance in our services, and that if we do this then God has no choice but to do that. If we give then He must bless us a hundred times that which we gave. We are told that if we just have enough faith that God must fulfill His word and heal us.
But then, the bottom falls out of our lives despite the fact that we may have done everything perfectly. It leaves us feeling that God has betrayed us.
We followed the formula. We adhered perfectly to what we were taught. God was supposed to respond favorably. He was supposed to make us rich. We gave Him everything we had and we got nothing back. We were counting on getting a hundred times what we gave back, but it didn’t happen.
Now what are we supposed to do?
I’ve been there. I’ve followed the plan. I’ve taken care of business. But what I thought I needed never came. God let me down! Did He?
Just when we think that we have God figured out, we discover that we really don’t.
Why? Because the Bible says, “’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 55:8-9).
In other words, God can do whatever He wants to do. After all, He is God. We want to think that we can manipulate Him. We believe that if we follow the pattern that God has no choice but to fulfill His promise.
I’ve said it all my ministry and today is no different, just when we think we have God in a corner, He will jump into the center of the room. When we try to put God in a box of rules and regulations He will break out of that box every time.
God has a plan, a way and thoughts that far exceed anything we would anticipate or expect.
Let me give you an example. In Hosea chapter 1 we are told that God instructed Hosea to go out and marry a prostitute and have children with her. Yet in the Law God gave to Moses, prostitutes were to be executed (see Deuteronomy 22:21). Why did God tell Hosea to do that? It was against His own rules.
But God instructed Hosea to do that as an example to what Israel and Judah were doing to Him. They were to be God’s own chosen people and be pure and holy. But they forsook Him, and began to worship the false gods of their neighboring nations which became spiritual adultery.
See what I mean? God can do whatever He wants!
Frankly, I’m glad that God can do whatever He wants to do. It may take control away from us, but then it requires us to completely trust God instead of following rules and attempting to hold God to them too.
You see, God has such a plan for each of our lives, a plan that far exceeds anything we might hope or imagine. It may not be what we think it should be, but it will be so much more wonderful than what we may have planned for ourselves. He thinks of us differently than we think. His ways, when revealed, will extend beyond what we have planned for ourselves.
I’ll never understand how God, can be so personal with each of His children. He is one and we are millions. In our finite minds it is unimaginable.
But with God, all things are possible. Despite the millions, God takes the time to be personal with each of us. His thoughts toward us blow our minds. His ways are so much better than ours are.
So, stop trying to make God fit. He never will. Forget about figuring out God. We can’t. But one thing is sure – He has us figured out. That is the greater point, after all.
—————
Jerry D. Ousley is the author of "Soul Challenge", "Soul Journey", "Ordeal", "The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional" and his first novel "The Shoe Tree." Newer books include "Finality" and "Dividing God's Church." Visit spiritbread. com to download these and more completely free of charge.
“God is a God of love,” says one. “God knows who I am and completely understands me,” remarks another.
The fact of the matter is, we think we have God all figured out. We have outlined the Bible, listed his characteristics and attributes, His appearances to man in human form (which we call theophanies), and think we know all about God.
We tell others that God works by formulas and that if we will just follow the pattern that we can increase attendance in our services, and that if we do this then God has no choice but to do that. If we give then He must bless us a hundred times that which we gave. We are told that if we just have enough faith that God must fulfill His word and heal us.
But then, the bottom falls out of our lives despite the fact that we may have done everything perfectly. It leaves us feeling that God has betrayed us.
We followed the formula. We adhered perfectly to what we were taught. God was supposed to respond favorably. He was supposed to make us rich. We gave Him everything we had and we got nothing back. We were counting on getting a hundred times what we gave back, but it didn’t happen.
Now what are we supposed to do?
I’ve been there. I’ve followed the plan. I’ve taken care of business. But what I thought I needed never came. God let me down! Did He?
Just when we think that we have God figured out, we discover that we really don’t.
Why? Because the Bible says, “’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 55:8-9).
In other words, God can do whatever He wants to do. After all, He is God. We want to think that we can manipulate Him. We believe that if we follow the pattern that God has no choice but to fulfill His promise.
I’ve said it all my ministry and today is no different, just when we think we have God in a corner, He will jump into the center of the room. When we try to put God in a box of rules and regulations He will break out of that box every time.
God has a plan, a way and thoughts that far exceed anything we would anticipate or expect.
Let me give you an example. In Hosea chapter 1 we are told that God instructed Hosea to go out and marry a prostitute and have children with her. Yet in the Law God gave to Moses, prostitutes were to be executed (see Deuteronomy 22:21). Why did God tell Hosea to do that? It was against His own rules.
But God instructed Hosea to do that as an example to what Israel and Judah were doing to Him. They were to be God’s own chosen people and be pure and holy. But they forsook Him, and began to worship the false gods of their neighboring nations which became spiritual adultery.
See what I mean? God can do whatever He wants!
Frankly, I’m glad that God can do whatever He wants to do. It may take control away from us, but then it requires us to completely trust God instead of following rules and attempting to hold God to them too.
You see, God has such a plan for each of our lives, a plan that far exceeds anything we might hope or imagine. It may not be what we think it should be, but it will be so much more wonderful than what we may have planned for ourselves. He thinks of us differently than we think. His ways, when revealed, will extend beyond what we have planned for ourselves.
I’ll never understand how God, can be so personal with each of His children. He is one and we are millions. In our finite minds it is unimaginable.
But with God, all things are possible. Despite the millions, God takes the time to be personal with each of us. His thoughts toward us blow our minds. His ways are so much better than ours are.
So, stop trying to make God fit. He never will. Forget about figuring out God. We can’t. But one thing is sure – He has us figured out. That is the greater point, after all.
—————
Jerry D. Ousley is the author of "Soul Challenge", "Soul Journey", "Ordeal", "The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional" and his first novel "The Shoe Tree." Newer books include "Finality" and "Dividing God's Church." Visit spiritbread. com to download these and more completely free of charge.
