Our Thoughts are Not His Thoughts

     We have been looking for a new church, since we moved to a new state, just before COVID broke out. Finding a place to worship is harder than it would seem. The factors of the pastor, music, location, and of course church doctrine are hard to get just right for us, as my husband and I have different views on what makes a good match. But I think we have landed in a place that is a fit for us both. Hallelujah!

       All that is to say, I started going to the women's Bible study group and they are reading, Intimacy with God, by Cynthia Heald. It's a study of the Psalms. Heald asks on page 32, "How do we know that if we give Him [God] our lives and reveal to Him our deepest desires, some tragedy will not befall us?" She notes that in Psalm 84:11 we read, "No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly." Then she quotes on the same page Sir Richard Baker, a 16th century religious writer in Charles H. Spurgeon's book, The Treasury of David:

But how is this true, (Psalm 84:11), when God oftentimes withholds riches and honors and health of body from men, though they walk ever so uprightly; we may therefore know that honors and riches and bodily strength are none of God's good things;...and the good things of God are chiefly peace of conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost in this life; fruition of God's presence, and vision of His blessed face in the next, and these good things God never bestows upon the wicked, and never withholds from the godly.

     This idea that honors, riches, and good health "are none of God's good things" struck me like a ton of bricks! It was such an amazing reminder of Isaiah 55:8, "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the LORD." The good things of God as Baker noted are "peace of conscience," "joy in the Holy Ghost," "God's presence" in our lives, "vision of His blessed face" in heaven and all these things He gives to those who love Him. What Christian doesn't desire peace, joy, intimacy with God, and one day seeing Him face to face?

    We over look the simply magnificent by seeking the worldly mundane. Rather than pursuing a humdrum existence, let's pursue amazingly wonderful experiences with our God and King. Let's make His thoughts our thoughts and His ways our ways and see how our lives change now and into eternity!

Isaiah 55:9 As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.