Learning to obey when God says no.
Oof, that's a tough one! It's probably safe to say that all of us at one point have, "Been there, done that." But seriously, it's rough to obey when He says no. Especially when our way seems better! However, as it is written in Isaiah 55:8-9, "'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.'" (KJV)
In that verse we see that God's plan for us and our lives is far greater than anything we can image. Our ways, cannot possibly compare with His! So why do we keep wasting our time trying to do things our way, when His is so much better to begin with? Think of it this way!
It's like a little kid in a candy store. He wants one specific candy on the display. To the kiddo, it seems like the best, brightest, most yummy candy not only in the store but probably the whole world! The little one keeps asking his dad if he can get it. But his father says no, knowing that the candy contains something that won't sit well with his son. No responsible father would ever knowingly let their child get something that would cause them harm! That's the same thing that God does with us.
With that being said, He won't force us to do as he says. Ultimately, it's our choice if we eat the candy or not, but if we do, we brought the stomach ache upon ourselves. (See I Samuel 15, for example) In the following story which we are about to read, we see that David had a task at hand, defeating the Philistines. Instead of going out with an average war strategy designed by men who are fallible, he chose to seek first the face of the One and Only infallible God.
📖 I Chronicles 14:8-17
My pastor once taught us about this Biblical account. And it always stuck with me how the battle was already half won. Once God gave the instruction all that was left was for David to follow it. During the first encounter, God allowed David to win the battle in an easier manner. Saying, "Go, I will deliver them in your hands."(NIV) but the second time around, the instructions are even more miraculous! "Do not go directly after them, but circle around them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move out to battle, because that will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army."(NIV) Talk about a miracle! What better way to win a battle than having the Lord's very army go before you?!
And last but not least, in verse 16 we find the key point! "So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon to Gezer." Amazing things happen when we choose to obey God! The Lord will give us the victory, all we have to do is obey!
In that verse we see that God's plan for us and our lives is far greater than anything we can image. Our ways, cannot possibly compare with His! So why do we keep wasting our time trying to do things our way, when His is so much better to begin with? Think of it this way!
It's like a little kid in a candy store. He wants one specific candy on the display. To the kiddo, it seems like the best, brightest, most yummy candy not only in the store but probably the whole world! The little one keeps asking his dad if he can get it. But his father says no, knowing that the candy contains something that won't sit well with his son. No responsible father would ever knowingly let their child get something that would cause them harm! That's the same thing that God does with us.
With that being said, He won't force us to do as he says. Ultimately, it's our choice if we eat the candy or not, but if we do, we brought the stomach ache upon ourselves. (See I Samuel 15, for example) In the following story which we are about to read, we see that David had a task at hand, defeating the Philistines. Instead of going out with an average war strategy designed by men who are fallible, he chose to seek first the face of the One and Only infallible God.
📖 I Chronicles 14:8-17
My pastor once taught us about this Biblical account. And it always stuck with me how the battle was already half won. Once God gave the instruction all that was left was for David to follow it. During the first encounter, God allowed David to win the battle in an easier manner. Saying, "Go, I will deliver them in your hands."(NIV) but the second time around, the instructions are even more miraculous! "Do not go directly after them, but circle around them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move out to battle, because that will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army."(NIV) Talk about a miracle! What better way to win a battle than having the Lord's very army go before you?!
And last but not least, in verse 16 we find the key point! "So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon to Gezer." Amazing things happen when we choose to obey God! The Lord will give us the victory, all we have to do is obey!
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