LEARNING DAILY

 

Psalm 24:1, The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to Him. (New Living Translation)

 

If Psalm 24:1 is true, then everything that happens on earth is subject to God’s command and His desire. I found this in an article I read, “He is in charge of all things. Nothing can take place without Him sanctioning it. Life is not a series of random, freak accidents. Everything that happens is planned and orchestrated by Him. If we only grasp this truth and comprehend that fact, we will stop worrying about a lot of things because absolutely nothing happens without God’s permission. Even the devil has to seek His permission. Therefore, God alone has the final say in our lives and the events of the world.”

 

Before I go any further, we must remember that we are not robots or puppets that God is playing with or manipulating. The trials or events in our lives are moving us to a closer walk with Him on the narrow way. Our reaction to what happens in our lives should be based on our faith in God being in control and in charge of all thing. There may be chaos all around us and uncertainty all about us but that does not mean He is not in control. Let’s look at some examples from Scripture.

 

God tested Abraham with Isaac’s life to see if Abraham truly trusted in Him. God led Joseph through a series of trials in order for him to be second in control of Egypt, “what man meant for evil, God meant for good”. Satan had to ask God’s permission for what he did to Job and in the New Testament the devil asked Jesus’ permission to “sift” Peter. The apostle Paul desired to minister in one area but the Holy spirit would not let him. God led Peter to jail in order to minister to a jailor and his family. The prophet Samuel went to the house of Jesse at God’s direction and chose David to be the king of His people; God looked at David’s heart not his stature. Do you get the idea?

 

We mortals like to believe we are in control. We like to make plans and preparations for what we want to do. However, the ability to see them through, comes from God. “The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.” (Psalm 16:1). We need to believe that whatever circumstance we find ourselves in, God either allowed it or caused it to happen according to His purposes. That usually means He is trying to stretch our faith so that we walk more closely with Him on the narrow way to His kingdom. Think back upon your life, the events that have happened to you. Are you able to see His leading, His purpose in the things you have gone through? Have you experienced situations where He intervened so something terrible did not happen? I have! Don’t write it off to something other than God. God works in your life and mine the way He wants, the way He knows He will be honored and we will be drawn closer to Him. We just need to realize He is working in us for Him to receive glory.

 

God has His way to get our attention. What is happening in our life and in the world right now is part of His plan. Humans might have caused it but He allowed it. What we are experiencing in the world events occurring are a part of His plan. I am even stepping out and saying the events are what He has already told would happen (without the specifics). I do not believe in providence; I believe all things happen to achieve God’s purpose. God is on His throne and in complete control of everything happening. That gives me peace!