God works so differently than we could ever expect sometimes, doesn’t He?
Even when we’re looking for Him, even when we’re looking for His ways so that we don’t “miss Him” —He has this “way” about Him that goes far beyond what we could ever expect in our minds.
He has this way of challenging our ways —perspectives we may have had for a long time—perhaps ways we’ve lived our whole lives, even good things, even good ways… and yet still, He chooses to shake them up.
He has this way of challenging our ways, beliefs we’ve always believed—
…and it’s always for the best, and for the good of our lives and the connection our lives have with others’ lives, and with His greater plan and purpose for the earth.
Perhaps the way we’ve always thought, or believed, or lived may not be exactly the way He needs us to think or live or believe in the time right now…. not that our ways had necessarily been a sin all of our lives or “bad”… but what if He just needs us to do things a little differently in this new time for a reason, for a purpose?
He needs us to come into alignment with His ways, and to be aware of when our ways are not in alignment with His ways, and what He’s doing in the “now”…
Have you noticed how He’s always nudging us toward change? And Yet He’s never changing……. He doesn’t need to change because He’s perfect. ?He knows we need growth, and He knows we need to be challenged with change in order to grow. ?
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” —Hebrews 13:8
“For I the Lord do not change…” —Malachi 3:6
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”—Romans 12:12
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”—2 Peter 3:18
It can be a scary and uncomfortable thing to consider… changing our ways, even considering that we could have been wrong in certain areas of our lives. Or maybe our ways have not been “wrong” at all, yet we still must change them now.
God has this way of tearing down and a way of building up. Like a Farmer, He knows the perfect timing for when to root up and when to plant.
Tearing down of old ways, old beliefs, and old things that may have been good, but perhaps they’re now a “hinderance”… and these old things won’t allow us to build and grow the “new”… and so He’s now clearing the old things away, to make room for the new. ?
As I sat here this morning, I looked over to where my bible was opened up, and I noticed it was opened up to the beginning of the book of Nehemiah, specifically to chapter 1. Then from there, I took some time to dig into more of the overview of the book.
I feel I am to put “Nehemiah’s prayer for the people” here in the post today (and I’m reading it in a translation I don’t typically read from, GOD’S WORD Translation):
“Distressing News”
1 These are Nehemiah’s words, son of Hacaliah:
During the month of Chislev, in Artaxerxes’ twentieth year as king, while I was in the fortress at Susa, 2 one of my brothers, Hanani, arrived with some men from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had survived captivity and about Jerusalem. 3 They told me, “Those who survived captivity are in the province. They are enduring serious troubles and being insulted. The wall of Jerusalem has been broken down, and its gates have been destroyed by fire.”
“Nehemiah’s Prayer”
4 When I heard this, I sat down and cried. I mourned for days. I continued to fast and pray to the God of heaven. 5 I said,
“Lord God of heaven, great and awe-inspiring God, you faithfully keep your promise[a] and show mercy to those who love you and obey your commandments. 6 Open your eyes, and pay close attention with your ears to what I, your servant, am praying. I am praying to you day and night about your servants the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against you as well as the sins that my father’s family and I have committed. 7 We have done you a great wrong. We haven’t obeyed the commandments, laws, or regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses. 8 Please remember what you told us through your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations. 9 But if you return to me and continue to obey my commandments, though your people may be driven to the most distant point on the horizon, I will come and get you from there and bring you to the place where I chose to put my name.’ 10 These are your servants and your people whom you have saved by your great power and your strong hand. 11 Lord, please pay attention to my prayer and to the prayers of all your other servants who want to worship your name. Please give me success today and make this man, King Artaxerxes, show me compassion.”
Thank You, Lord, for leading us in Your ways, for leading us always into the new. Help us with change, and help us to let go of the old things, so we can help build the new with You. Thank You, Lord Jesus.
“I am doing something brand new, something unheard of.
Even now it sprouts and grows and matures.
Don’t you perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and open up flowing streams in the desert.”—Isaiah 43:19 TPT
-Heather ?