EquippedMama

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55:8-11, Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

My kids love it when there’s mud in the yard. It might not happen often, but when it does, they sure get their milage out of it.

All three of my older children are often found in one of the spots in the yard that best collects puddles, making some intricate mud pie or painting a tree with the slimy goo. Their favorite activity, however, is when I happen to venture out doors and they chase me with caked hands and squeals of delight. I see their fun outdoors and know how wonderful and fleeting this season is. I also see muddy prints tracking from my back door to the shower and the pile of crumpled, discarded clothes which will be waiting for me in the laundry room.

They see mud and see a fun time, their minds unconcerned with what might happen five minutes from now. I see mud and think of the fun now, the mess later, and the memories for years to come.

How crucial our perspective!

In the book of Isaiah, the Lord reminds us that His thoughts are infinitely higher than ours. He states that His thoughts are not our thoughts (v.8), his plans are higher, or another translation states superior (verse 9, New English Translation) than ours. The passage then goes on to state that the Word of God always accomplishes His purposes.

What a great comfort this is! The Lord isn’t just like us. He is greater than us. His thoughts are higher than ours, and His Words always accomplish His purposes.

As a mom, sometimes I am overwhelmed with the number of concurrent requests for my attention. When two or three children all vie for my attention in the same instant, I find myself unable to even process what each child is saying. Sometimes I find myself verbally reminding myself of what I was trying to accomplish so my tired brain can keep up. Anything that is important I have scribbled in my old-school hard-copy day planner so I can’t forget it.

Have you stopped to thank the Lord that He is more than able to handle the needs of all His children all at the same time? This is a truly amazing thought. The Lord has time for us, all at once. His thoughts and His plans are so much higher and better than we can ever imagine, and His words and His purposes are going to be accomplished.

Perhaps you are in a season of crazy, Let your scattered thoughts be a cue to thank the Lord that His thoughts are higher than yours.

Perhaps you are in a season of sadness. Ask the Lord to allow your thoughts to look more like His.

Perhaps you are in a season of searching. Ask the Lord to guide your thoughts.

In whatever season you are in, take comfort that the Lord is wiser and stronger and higher than the best we can offer. His thoughts are higher than ours. That is good news.

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