God has higher plans and purposes for your life and He wants to reveal them to you. He desires that you grow into the full measure of your capacity in Him. This is part of His covenant of grace. Our challenge is discovering His purposes and finding our path to fulfillment. Since God’s ways are not our ways but higher (Isaiah 55:8-9) than ours, that typically means altering our thinking and shifting our perspective. Here are some thoughts to ponder and pray about to discover His higher purposes.
RELEVANCE
God has unique plans to bless every generation
“The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations” (Psalm 33:11).
God’s kingdom operates in unique ways; different than the ways of the world
“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).
God has unique purposes and offers opportunities for participation
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).
God reveals His plans to those faithful to Him, walking in the fear of the Lord
“The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant” (Psalm 25:14).
Our starting point, therefore, is coming to a place where we are willing to put our ideas and agendas aside and first seek to align ourselves in right relationship with God. He will bring us down a path to have us walk through trials to teach us His ways and reveal His nature in us. He, therefore, seeks to teach us His values.
When He finds us trusting in Him and faithful to Him, He begins to plant His vision for us in our heart. He then brings us through exercises to strengthen us in character so we will express His virtues; the virtues of Christ. Through His virtues we can execute His vision– which will align with His values. In such a way He is glorified.
His route may take us down a different path than we had anticipated, but remember, “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). The key is choosing His purposes.
This is where things get difficult for us. Typical thinking approaches things from this perspective: “God gave me free will and therefore I will make my own decisions and ask God to bless them.” God will honor your decisions and let you reap the fruit thereof. The result, however, may not be what you expect.
If you desire to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” so that “all these things shall be added to you” ( Matthew 6:33) you must follow His ways and His path. His ways are higher and He desires to bring you higher to experience His higher ways and higher life. The issue we all must reconcile is the “all things” that God says will be added. That’s where values point to outcomes– the fruit. And higher values bring us to bearing greater fruit— for His glory.
REFLECT AND RELATE
How are you seeking to learn God’s ways and pursuing His purposes?
What kind of fruit do you envision producing?
How will such fruit glorify God?
REFERENCES
Matthew 7:7; John 14:12-21