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For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says Yahweh. 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 WEB.

There have been many times in life when I worked something out in my mind, planned how it should go, then watched as it went the other way. As a business owner, at times, it was frustrating. I felt that I needed to be in control. Sometimes I became angry because I thought it could have been a good break for us. Like Martha, I would ask Him, "Lord, don't You care?"

Time and time again, I saw that God had other plans for me. He often kept me from making a bad choice, though it looked good at the time. The Lord could see further down the road than I could. So thank God for those unanswered prayers.

He was often busy preparing me for the next stage of my journey and His next project. While I was working hard on "My plans," He was busy steering me to where I needed to be next. His plans sometimes involved being laid off, mistreated, and offended. At least that was my perception. In reality, it was mostly my pride that got hurt, and fairly often. God will discipline His children (Hebrews 12:7).

If my prayers had been answered, I wouldn't be a pastor or writing this. For we prayed, and we fasted, and we gave, and we begged God to bless our computer business, but He had bigger plans and could see further down the road than we could. He had prepared us to work for Him in the ministry, and when the time came, He squeezed us out of the old so that we would accept the new. I am happy to be here now, and it is better than I ever thought possible, but His thoughts were well beyond my thoughts at the time. I didn't care for the squeezing either.

Disappointment often comes when our plans don't line up with His plans. We struggle and strive to make a business work only to find that He is trying to move us into something better. We kick and fight and scream to hold onto the past when He is trying to gently pull it away so that He can get us to take the next step. It's like holding on to a bad tooth. God is always preparing you for the next stage of your life. What you are doing now is preparing you for what is coming. He will make it all worth it, and one day when looking back, it will make sense.

I am writing this to those that have submitted their lives to God as the Bible teaches us because that is who the promises are for. "In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will direct your paths" (Proverbs 3:6). "Delight yourself in the Lord, And He will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalms 37:4). "You shall seek Me, and find Me, when you shall search for Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13). "If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land" (Isaiah 1:19).

These verses state, "If you do this," then "this will happen." Jesus, Himself said, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and don't do the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46). Our obedience is what makes Him our Lord and activates the promises of God in our life. Who shall eat the good of the land? The willing and obedient. Who will have the desires of their heart? Those who delight themselves in the Lord.

I have spent years of my life that were not submitted to God, and He let me roam like a wild weed, doing whatever I chose and reaping the consequences. My progress in life stalled, and years were lost. The Father didn't stop the prodigal son from leaving His house (Luke 15:13), nor will the Lord stop you when you fully understand what you are doing and choose to do it anyway. Yet, when the party is over, we are always welcome to come home to Him.

When I began to intentionally seek God daily, tried to live right, lay on the carpet, and pour out my heart to Him, things changed in my life. Does the way we live affect the blessing of God in our lives? Absolutely. "Don't be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that will he also reap" (Galatians 6:7).

Submit yourselves to God, and He will make your life worth living. He can fill the empty places. He can turn poverty into an abundance. He can surround the lonely with friends. He levels the playing field and brings the lowly up and the arrogant down. His ways are not our ways, nor His thoughts, but if we spend time with Him in prayer, He will share His thoughts with us. When our desires finally line up with His, great things will happen in us, to us, and through us.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I submit my life to You. Use me as You will and put me where I need to be. Please share Your thoughts and plans with me so that I can be in tune with You. May Your will be done on earth, and in my life, as it is in heaven. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: For those following the Creation Photography weekly challenges, group leader, Dianna Wyles: Psalm 19:1-2 "For the director of music. A psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge." ~ 'Looking to the Heavens' will be the next fun inspired theme and, as always, is open wide for your creative flair, so take some pictures and have some fun. My photos this week highlight the Leucistic Kingfisher and a few glimpses of what I see when I look up. I'm so curious to see what you see! Enjoy your week y'all and don't forget to look up! Here is the link: Creation Photographers

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