O Sovereign Lord!
Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish. Isaiah 46:9-10
Sister,
So many times we rush to God in prayer wanting to almost manipulate Him into doing what we desire. We take that same attitude of entitlement with us in the store, on our jobs and in our relationships. We can think so highly of our thoughts and emotions that we forget that the world does not revolve around us. Do we ever think of the Sovereignty of God? We stand before the Maker of the Universe and bark out requests as if He is obligated to honor them. I can only imagine that God must either laugh at our ignorance or turn from us because of our arrogance. How foolish can we get? Sister, How is it that mere dust that only has life because the Almighty God has allowed it, has the audacity to approach the Eternal God with pride? Your Mercy Lord! Is that YOU? Is that ME?
Now if you are wondering what God's Sovereignty truly means... you may have heard of it but not understand it. Sovereignty is God's complete rule over all... Supreme Power and Authority. Everything is under the government Of God. (PERIOD) In the passage above God is telling Israel to remember their past deliverance and provision all by His Hand alone. He reminds them He is the Only God. He is the only One that knows the future before it begins and whatever HE plans will happen. No one has the mind capable enough to instruct the Lord. Look at Isaiah 40:13-14. How can the clay tell the Potter how to configure him? We are only little finite beings that Jesus came to set free from the bondage of sin. Sister, we need to constantly remind ourselves of who we are really dealing with when we come before the Lord.
Parents can understand that naturally if their children address them in a particular way that undermines their authority ... some chairs might be moving and some feet might be running. Lol All jokes aside. Parents see the need for their children to honor the authority over their lives but what about us as God's children? Does the same standard apply?
Now, let's consider this. Just as sovereign as the Lord is, He is also loving and compassionate. The same Lord who is sovereign is loving and the same Lord who is loving is sovereign. That's not two different sides of God. He never seizes to be who He is at all times. So when His Sovereign Hand rules an outcome that we think is unfavorable we can still trust that that same hand has shown us His love and grace in the outcome. So Sister, we can still rest confidentially in whatever direction the Lord rules. O Sovereign Lord ! How Strong and Holy ... How Just and Righteous... How Kind and Compassionate You are.
Sister, let's remember the next time we approach our wonderful, sovereign Lord that we are to draw close with a humble heart surrendered and open to His Will being performed above our own desires. Let's get with God's program and remember who's in charge!
Prayer Focus:
O Sovereign Lord...
My dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for who You are. You are God and God alone. No one is your rival or equal. You are exalted above all things and Your Name is Holy. Help me live humbly under Your rule and direction. Help me not to walk in pride or entitlement. Purge me O Lord from the arrogance that is alive in me. Help me to agree with Your Word. When you rule a different outcome than what I desire, help me to rest in Your loving sovereign hand. Please use me for Your Glory and have Your Way in me.
In Jesus name , Amen.
Application Exercise
Sister, You have all month to work on this assignment, so take your time and don't skip any portion of it. ☺️
First I need you to spend some time in prayer. Pray and ask the Lord to bring back to your mind things from the past that showed His faithfulness towards you. Make a chart with 3 different categories - Past/ Present/ Future. The things God has done even when you didn't like it at first but later you saw why He allowed it, write them in the Past category. In the Present category I want you to write down recent ways in which the Lord has moved in your life. In the last category Future write down petitions that you are praying about concerning what is to come. Now review your Past and really think about how the sovereign rule of God was for your benefit. In the next category I want you to see how His sovereignty is still sustaining and protecting you now. Lastly, the next column you will have to revisit and as God's Will is performed in your life concerning future outcomes go back and write them down. As you look over this chart you will see that at no point did God's sovereign loving hand leave you. Sister.... rest in the sovereignty of God.
-The Team of Push Pause & Pray