Daily Devotional for September 22, 2020
“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
I was talking with a friend the other day and said, “I am living my prayers that I once prayed.” Now, though I was living what I had prayed for, my REality is not what I had ever planned or thought—and that’s how God works. I prayed for peace in my life, to be and feel loved, for a new home, and unexpected blessings. However, I did not REalize that my answered prayers would come with a cost. As mentioned BEfore, sometimes we have to lose to win, and this life is not our own, Jeremiah 29:11 states, “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” Today I am living my answered prayers, but the way I REceived them is not what I planned. I’m living in peace, but in a home of my own. I am divorced yet feel more loved than ever BEfore, and unexpected blessings continue to flow in my life that I NEVER imagined. As Joel Osteen encourages, “Let these words sink down into your spirit: God’s way is better than your way. His plan is bigger than your plan. His dream for your life more rewarding, more fulfilling, better than you ever dreamed.”
Deuteronomy 10
As we trust our Father with His plans for our lives, may we also “...fear the Lord our God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all our heart and with all our soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord our God and his decrees...for our own well-being.” (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)
For a number of years in my life I realized that I knew God but did not trust Him. You can’t learn to trust if you don’t give the opportunity. I was focused on fulfilling what I thought I was supposed to do to reach my goals. I even looked to my spouse at the time to help make those dreams a REality. With all of the hard work and sacrifice, though gaining it seemed my life was lacking. With the human eye it was perceived as all was well: husband and wife, kids, nice home, cars, and businesses. Yet, I was truly lacking. The scripture came to mind, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36) I was barely giving the Lord the small portion He asked for all He had blessed me with to ensure the earthly things were taken care of during that time in my life. Quite frankly, I even lacked in my worship. But once I stepped out in faith, truly following His way, I learned the importance of what Tony Evans discusses in today’s devotional. Evans said, “Remember that when we obey God and sow in faith for His glory and not for personal gain, we not only reap what we sow, but more than we sow.” For the past two years, I have consistently given the first fruit to God, and what couldn’t BE done in a two income home is now BEing done on my own, and even better, new opportunities have unfolded BEcause of my trust and faith. I truly understand what it means to REap what you sow. Whatever you put into this life, you get out of it, in finance, love, and whatever you desire.
2 Timothy 2:15
As quoted by Dr. Seuss, “Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you!” God created each of us uniquely and we should never BE ashamed to just BE who He has intended for us to BE. May we live, work, and love authentically and true to ourselves, spreading His word for others to follow. 🙏🏽💚🦋🌈
Walk with wisdom from the Word this Wednesday, my friend.
