His Ways

Recently, I began reading a book the Lord had, for some time, been telling me to read pertaining to my calling.

 The book has been absolutely illuminating. It has provided me so much revelation and understanding to those that walk in this five-fold ministry gift. 

In the book, the author describes several instances as to the reasoning of  why the Lord still speaks to His people and more specifically, speaks to His True Prophets. 

While the author has emphasized the importance of the prophetic (which, by the way, the prophetic mantle is much more than just supernatural prediction), she also explains why people don’t receive prophetic instruction:

 1) they can’t grasp or understand  God’s omniscience, and

 2) Anything contradictory to our  flesh (mind, will, intellect, and emotion) to a person that lives by their flesh is offensive. And since The Lord is a Spirit,  He speaks to our spirits which are made in His image and in His likeness (Genesis 1:26) 

It has made me rethink how I navigate life. 

It reminded me in Isaiah 55, how the prophet Isaiah describes that God’s omniscience and plans far exceed that of a human:

Isaiah 55:6-11

Seek the Lord while He may be found;

Call on Him [for salvation] while He is near.

7 

Let the wicked leave (behind) his way

And the unrighteous man his thoughts;

And let him return to the Lord,

And He will have compassion (mercy) on him,

And to our God,

For He will abundantly pardon.

8 

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.

9 

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways

And My thoughts higher than your thoughts.

10 

“For as the rain and snow come down from heaven,

And do not return there without watering the earth,

Making it bear and sprout,

And providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

11 

So will My word be which goes out of My mouth;

It will not return to Me void (useless, without result),

Without accomplishing what I desire,

And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

When we take a step back and ponder how God’s thoughts and ways are toward us, we shouldn’t take it lightly at all. Our Creator God speaks something and it happens because His Words are more meaningful and powerful than any other spoken or written word (v.11-12). 

When approaching it this way, it suddenly seems silly to be offended when THE LORD has something planned for us that differs from our own humanistic imagination. It seems silly to be upset when THE LORD gives us instructions that are out of our comprehension. 

Let’s look at Ephesians 2:1-11 AMP(emphasis added)

 And you [He made alive when you] were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you once walked. You were following the ways of this world [influenced by this present age], in accordance with the prince of the power of the air (Satan), the spirit who is now at work in the disobedient [the unbelieving, who fight against the purposes of God]. 3 Among these [unbelievers] we all once lived in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by the sinful self], indulging the desires of human nature [without the Holy Spirit] and [the impulses] of the [sinful] mind. We were, by nature, children [under the sentence] of [God’s] wrath, just like the rest [of mankind]. 4 But God, being [so very] rich in mercy, because of His great and wonderful love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of our sins, He made us [spiritually] alive together with Christ (for by His grace—His undeserved favor and mercy—you have been saved from God’s judgment). 6 And He raised us up together with Him [when we believed], and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, [because we are] in Christ Jesus, 7 [and He did this] so that in the ages to come He might [clearly] show the immeasurable and unsurpassed riches of His grace in [His] kindness toward us in Christ Jesus [by providing for our redemption]. 8 For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; 9 not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation]. 10 For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].

The writer of Ephesians is contrasting the works of the flesh from the mercy and goodness of the Way of THE LORD. In other words, if it were up to us (humans) in our flesh, we would always choose the way that feels good but would lead to eternal damnation. But if we crucify our flesh and go with God, we will see who He has called us to be and walk in that way. 

Sometimes I wonder if part of the reason God’s ways are higher than ours, and why humans don’t want to tap into it, is because God’s way is not tainted by flesh (aka pride, vanity, ego, self serving motives, etc.)  

A wise woman shared with Selah that the area you don’t allow God to work on you is the same area the enemy will use [to make you stumble]. So when God calls us to be disciplined, when God shines light on something painful, when God gives us instructions, it’s because in His omniscience and omnipotence, He can see something we do not. He knows His creation. He knows The Way. 

Saints, I encourage you to get away from the works of the flesh and to read the Bible and dwell with God so that you can understand His Nature (aka His Way). When you understand His Nature, life gets easier because you will be operating in spiritual obedience and righteousness and not in the flesh. 

Prayer: LORD, help me to understand your nature. Help me to put away my own thoughts and timing and to be in alignment with your Ways. Help me to desire the Will of God for my life, the lives of others, and my sphere. LORD, I ask that you would help me die to my flesh and to walk in an excellent way. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.