Thursday, 23 July 2020 Isaiah 55:1-13
“For My thoughts are not Your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the LORD -Isaiah 55:8
The thoughts and ways of an infinite GOD are far above those of finite man. HE is the GOD of yesterday, today and forever and works in ways we cannot see (with our physical eyes), in conformity with His will and purpose (Eph. 1:11). It is for man to yield to His thoughts and ways if he want to live rightly in this world.
Prov.21:2 says: "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts." Like sheep, each of us has turned to his own way (Isaiah 53:6). Ephesians 2:3 [TLB] puts it like this: “All of us used to be just as they are, our lives expressing the evil within us, doing every wicked thing that our passions or our evil thoughts might lead us into.” In his degenerate mind, man’s thoughts are evil and far away from GOD. The wisdom of the world is foolishness to GOD (1Cor.3:19); the things of the world: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life (1 John 2:16) are all fleeting and will not last. Walking in his own way, without GOD will only bring ruin and pain in its wake.
In order for GOD to establish His thoughts and plans in our lives, it is important that we surrender our thoughts and plans to Him. We need to understand that our thoughts play a vital role in our lives. According to Matthew 15:19, our thoughts have the power to make us unclean!! So GOD instructs us in Isaiah 55:7, “Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts; let him turn to the LORD.” Forsaking the old ways of the world and the evil thoughts that are anti-God is the beginning for GOD to work in one’s life. A transformation by the renewing of the mind (Rom.12:2) through the Spirit of GOD can help align our thoughts towards GOD and His ways. Romans 12:2 [TLB]: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you.” God’s ways are perfect: [“As for GOD His way is perfect...”-2 Samuel 22:31]—how good it is to acknowledge Him in all our ways, so He can direct our paths (Prov.3: 6).
GOD’s thoughts towards us are of peace and not of evil, to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). And His thoughts of us are precious and are more in number than the sands on the seashore (Psalm 139:17,18) – wow! That’s way more than we could think of ourselves! Just think of that! If we are so precious to Him, why walk around with worrying thoughts about ourselves? It is for each of us to decide to choose to walk in GOD’s ways. Deut.5:33 says, “You shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your GOD has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you…” We can ask Him to show us His ways and teach us His paths (Psalm 25:4) and put His thoughts in our hearts that we will live godly lives. It’s your choice!
Think on it: “Who is a man that fears the LORD? Him shall HE teach in the way HE chooses.” (Psalm 25:12)