Sovereignty

Photo by Sherry Childers- Pensacola, Florida

Through the years, one thing that continues to be revealed within life’s journey is the sovereignty of God and the ongoing revelation of His will.  As believers living on this earth with the secular influences saturating our daily existence, it is easy to see how we can become lost within our own interpretation of God’s Truth and desire for mankind.  I make the remark of our interpretation because I was listening to a speaker and they mentioned we should remain grounded but flexible in our relationship with God that we do not limit our ability to faithfully serve based upon a religious or misaligned mind set.  That has really stuck with me as there is evidence of a spirit of religion and rigidity within society and even the church body.

The lack of desire for people to embody mercy and compassion and see a circumstance from both points of view has led to a culture of cancellation, isolation and in some instances bullying that exceeds normal debates or discussions.  This heightened level of aggression is pushing individuals to make life altering decisions with detrimental consequences.  This leads me back to the knowledge brought forth from the previously mentioned speaker, as believers we should be willing to remain flexible in our walk with the LORD, not flexible within His principles of Truth as outlined within His Word, but flexible within our walk that we submit to and align our lives with His will.  Our lives should be based upon God’s Truth but flexible enough that we submit to and live in accordance with the plan He has for each of us. 

That is the verse for today, Psalm 81:11-12, “But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me.  So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.”  Our lives should begin with listening, not necessarily physically listening, but listening within our heart, soul and spirit that God’s will, His commands in alignment with His Truth can be heard and received.  To hear is a relative term, but to hear and receive is a definitive term that gives intentionality and ordained purpose.  When we receive and are obedient, we willingly and submissively lean into God and His will for our lives.  This can be a minor life change like stop watching this or that on TV or your media device or maybe even stop going to certain places.  These are all relative requests that generally can be inconvenient requiring discipline, but the outcome can be life altering for His Glory. 

A more elevated and difficult life change could be a request from the LORD to change friends, jobs or where you live?  Maybe your friends or job place you in situations that continue to keep your heart in rebellion or maybe expose you regularly to environments that inhibit or limit your growth in the LORD.  Being obedient to these God directed life changes will give glory to Him while also bringing revelation to you and others in an atmosphere of revival within your environment.  It is in these revival moments that people are exposed to Jesus and souls are brought to salvation through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

How many times in our lives do we have the opportunity to serve our LORD and submit to His will but instead we push back or keep heading in our own direction?  That was the same for the Hebrew nation referenced above in verse 11, “Israel would not submit to Me.”  When God reaches out with guidance and direction, do we find ourselves making excuses to continue in our own way or maybe even self justify our actions?  I can think of many times over my life that the LORD, through Holy Spirit gave me direction and I flat out, well as the song states, “Did it my way!”.  I was not going to be swayed, I was not listening and surely not submitting.  What happened in the end?  It was a disaster!  The results were less than optimal, someone generally was negatively impacted and most importantly, a chance to bring forth God’s Glory was missed. 

I believe that is what is meant in verse 12 above, “So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.”  Reference to stubborn hearts and left over to my own devices has really impacted my studies. How many times in my life did I create my own uncomfortable, financially limiting or worse, relationship difficulty because I would not listen and submit to our LORD?  In the end, He gave me over to my own stubborn heart to follow my own devices.  In some of these instances I can see where this stubbornness was drawn from preconceived or religious imprints.  Through a life surrounded by the environment and culture of my upbringing, I continue to unveil areas within my heart and soul that are derived from historical references leading to limitations in God’s ability to work through me.  Where my lack of willingness to be flexible limited God’s Grace to flow in my life, His influence was also limited through my own preconceived thoughts or notions.  There have even been times I was made aware of limitations for the sharing of God’s Grace based upon self determined religious beliefs or ideology. 

As believers in Christ living within God’s sovereignty, we are called be grounded in His Truth, but at the same time flexible enough in our devotion to meet those in need where they are.  This could be relational, physical, financial; whatever and wherever you have been called to minister, your heart and soul in submission to the LORD should be willing to adhere to that calling.  The Prophet Samuel stated it best in chapter 15, verse 22, “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” 

As believers it is important we remain receptive and open to God’s will as communicated through Holy Spirit that our lives, our walk as evidenced by His glory within our environments is not hindered or inhibited based on our unwillingness to listen, submit and obey.  It is when I am willing to freely give all that I am to the LORD, that He begins to craft a new heart and put a new spirit within me (Ezekiel 3:26) that is in alignment with His love, Grace and forgiveness.