I sometimes wonder how many of us can look back over our lives and really sense that a higher power was at work in the milestones along the way, the events that framed our existence. I often have and I am fully persuaded that my entire life, the good, bad and ugly, was orchestrated by my creator. With that said, I don't mean to insinuate that he took full control of my faculties and that I operated as a puppet in his hands. I see it more as he declares in Jer 29:11, " For I know the thoughts (intention, plan) that I think (weave, fabricate) toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace (health, prosperity, favor), and not of evil (adversity, affliction), to give you an expected (literally a cord, as an attachment, figurately an expectation, hope) end (future, reward)."
His plans for me have always been for good. Ro 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." I believe that his intention was always to call me into his family, long before I could ever have conceived such an outcome. In looking back, I realize that even as a child of eight or nine, his hand was upon me. The events of my life, although not always what I would have chosen, literally moved me into a deeper and deeper relationship with him. He carried me along, revealing himself to me more and more, as I was able to receive revelation.
Today, I trust him with every major decision I have to make. Experience has taught me that, each time I prayed and asked for his direction, he was always there with an answer. Now I immediately go to him and await his leading. I have learned not to burst headlong into a decision, based on my own thoughts or emotions. I understand Jer 10:23 " O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps".
Whenever I've faced major issues in my life, Yehovah has always been more than ready to lead my family to a favorable outcome.....when I've prayed and asked for his assistance. He never pushed his way into our lives. He has given us free moral agency and he respects and allows us to choose for ourselves the path we will follow. We just need to understand that he has set in motion blessings and cursings within the very fabric of creation, natural laws that will dictate the ultimate outcome of our choices in the day of judgment. De 30:19 :I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live." Sometimes, I've had to learn that the hard way, but chastisement and correction have driven the rebellion out of me.
Today, I know I need him. I know that his thoughts are not my thoughts and his ways are not my ways. I've learned that his ways will always lead to blessings. Mine have a tendency to result in disaster. There was a time when I would cry out to him as a last resort, when I had already made a mess of things. Now he is the one I go to first, before any decision is made, and then I wait. I wait upon him to direct my steps, to give me wisdom and insight. I wait for his season, for I know that he knows the end from the beginning, he sees what I cannot see.
I have come to imagine my life as a circle within a circle. Yehovah has created all things and he has an ultmate plan for this earth and mankind. His plan trumps ours every time. Through the ages he has orchestrated the workings of nations and governments, the rise and fall of kings and kingdoms for his own purposes. His is the big circle. My individual life is but a very small circle. The world does not revolve around me. It's not about me! It's about HIM! If I am in his will and allow him to possess my being, I know that blessings are sure, for he has promised. With that said, he does care about my life, each detail, great and small. He wants to share that life with me and he wants it to be an abundant life. I want that too. I want to be aligned with that larger circle, not only in this life, but throughout all eternity.
