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Not Your Thoughts


“For 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.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
          My initial response to reading this passage this morning is “Oh, thank God!” If you have any wisdom, you’ll thank God that His ways and thoughts are higher than my thoughts, too. No, this isn’t self-deprecatory humor. I’m also sincerely thankful that His ways and thoughts are higher than yours, too. I used to pray for several thousand people a day (many in groups like the House of Representatives, or utility workers) and now I find it hard to get beyond Dad and me. I know, I’m dealing with circumstances that take a toll on a mind and body, but the point is that those circumstances don’t distract God from caring for the members of the House of Representatives, the utility workers, and all the others I was praying for. 
          I also like that God’s thoughts aren’t like ours, because we so often scream “Crisis! The world is coming to an end in the next thirty minutes (“Again?”) unless we ____________. I think God’s made it clear that it’s going to take at least 1007 years (7 year Tribulation, plus 1000 years of Christ’s reign on Earth, at least) before the world comes to an end. To put it in writer’s terms, God isn’t a “pantser,” He’s a “plotter.” He’s got the whole story plotted out and written. We can’t see it because we’re in the middle of it. 
          I have to wonder what Zheann would think, as she stands in Donezan’s city pretending to be someone else in hopes of rescuing someone if she knew that I’ve already written the rest of the story. She’d probably be relieved about some things, and certainly angry about some things, but that wouldn’t change the fact that she’s sort of in Luke Skywalker’s shoes, on the Death Star, trying to find Princess Leia. Fortunately, there’s no trash compactor involved. Yes, it’s a good thing that the Author of the story has a better perspective than the character.

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