CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 890

“His Way”

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For 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)

The house I have been renovating was broken into recently and all my power tools were stolen. To add insult to injury, they even stole my frozen pizza from the refrigerator. I confess that my response – my ways and my thoughts – following this event were definitely not the same as that of the Lord. I wanted vengeance. I wanted my tools back so I could stay on schedule for moving in this year. I wanted my pizza.

I sought the Lord in prayer asking Him, why us? Why now? What good can come of this? The Lord spoke to my heart that His ways are not my ways. I did not fully comprehend this response until I delved into the context of this Scripture which is clearly understood from verse 7. let the wicked…and the unrighteous man…return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7) God’s ways and thoughts are compassionate and forgiving while ours tend toward revenge and bitterness.

The young men, a sixteen and a seventeen year old were arrested. They had been on a crime spree robbing home after home looking for drugs or items of value that could be used to buy drugs. They even vandalized a Middle School and tortured a local farmer’s sheep with pitch forks and a bow and arrow. The Sheriff referred to the sixteen year old as a ‘bad seed’.

I saw the faces of these young men on the nightly news several days later and the Lord reminded me again that His ways are not my ways and it was then that He answered my prayerful questions of why me and why now. I should be in intercessory prayer for these young men. God wants their hearts to turn toward Him and I should pray for their salvation.

God’s Word encourages us that He loves us and works all things for our good. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28) The insurance settlement was sufficient to replace the essential tools necessary to finish the home renovation. My body enjoyed a one month respite and rest from not working on the house and my cholesterol levels are probably better off without having eaten that pizza. …All things work together for good…

We speak in Christian circles about divine encounters – those moments when our paths cross with others and there is an opportunity presented to pray for, with and/or to share the Gospel with them. Perhaps this robbery event was one such divine encounter. God wants everyone to come to salvation – even those considered to be a ‘bad seed’. The Lord is…not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

I have learned and continue to learn that the Lord is faithful in His love and that His Word is rock solid Truth. No matter what life circumstances come our way, we can rest in the knowledge of the Truth of His Word. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11) As the Holy Spirit prompts, please join with me in praying for the salvation of these young men.