God’s thoughts and ways are infinitely higher and wiser than our own. If we could do everything our own way, we would end up coddled, feeble and ineffective. We would never develop true strength of character, nor would we be able to understand or empathize with the weaknesses and problems that others face. In fact, we would likely make those around us miserable with our self-centered ways. This is why God, in His wisdom, does not permit us to simply have our own way.
Trials Needed for Growth
God’s thoughts and ways do not exempt us from experiencing troubles, trials, and difficulties. He allows us to go through weaknesses, to stumble and fall at times. In doing so, we become better equipped to come alongside and uplift others when they face similar struggles, as we can draw on our own experiences of being tempted and tested.
If everything were to be done entirely our way, we would ensure there were no annoyances, troubles or problems whatsoever. But that is not God’s way.
The Folly of Challenging Godly Wisdom
At times, we may become irate with God when He does not act according to our preferences. But it is the height of foolishness for us to get upset with Him simply because He did not do something the way we think it should have been done. If everything were to be done entirely our way, we would ensure there were no annoyances, troubles or problems whatsoever. But that is not God’s way.
Understanding the Supremacy of God’s Thoughts
“My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8). God’s thoughts and ways are infinitely higher and wiser than our own, for He alone knows the beginning from the end. He does not attempt something and then try to decide if it is right – whatever God does will always be perfect and righteous.
The Danger of Elevating Human Wisdom
When we demand that God do things our way, lifting up our own knowledge, thoughts and ways as superior, we are in essence claiming that our understanding surpasses His. We are attempting to make our wisdom and preferences primary, rather than exalting the One who knows all things far better than we do. This is a sinful attempt to dethrone God and enthrone ourselves.
Surrendering Sinful Thoughts for God’s Mercy
Sin often begins in the realm of our thoughts. Whatever drives us to sin can stir up something within us that corrupts our mind and soul. Even if the sinful act itself holds little allure, the very thoughts about it can make us feel guilty. If we want to receive God’s mercy, we must give up not only our sins, but even our thoughts about them. Anyone who clings tightly to their sins will never be able to truly receive God’s forgiveness or enter heaven.
All our past sins – even those we once took the most pleasure in, whether sins of the flesh or sins of the mind – must be given up.
The Call to Forsake Wicked Ways
To receive God’s pardon, we must surrender our lives to the Lord and place our trust in Him going forward. All our past sins – even those we once took the most pleasure in, whether sins of the flesh or sins of the mind – must be given up. As Isaiah 55:6-7 exhorts, we must “Seek Him while He may be found, [and] call upon Him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, the unrighteous man his thoughts of evil.”
Abandoning Unrighteousness for God’s Mercy
We often think our own way is the best, only to later discover it was not. But any way of sin is a wicked way that must be abandoned. This is the truth – those who refuse to give up their sin will forfeit all hope of heaven. The way of human nature, intense longing, and indulging ourselves is the wicked way that must be forsaken.
If we are unrighteous, we must turn from our own sinful thoughts and turn to the Lord instead. We may have been bold enough to judge and find fault with the God who created us, rather than humbly submitting to His ways. But this cannot continue if we hope to receive His mercy.
The Urgency of Seeking God’s Forgiveness
“Let the wicked forsake his way,” as Isaiah 55:7 commands. Merely acknowledging our way is wrong is not enough – we must actively give it up. If we are aware our way is sinful, yet persist in it, our guilt will only be compounded.
…we are not to judge God, but to honor and consider Him as infinitely greater than ourselves. Anyone who clings to sin cannot truly welcome the Savior who perfectly hates it.
We are all guilty to some degree of sin’s gradual workings in our thoughts, even if our outward ways do not seem openly wicked. But God commands the wicked to earnestly seek and call upon Him while He may still be found (Isaiah 55:6-7). Those seeking His mercy must come to Him, or return to Him, forsaking their former evil thoughts and ways. For when God’s judgment comes, it will be too late.
Embracing God’s Thoughts and Ways for Salvation
Are we truly serious about wanting God to save us? Then we must discard all our old sinful thoughts and change our minds on many subjects. Since God’s thoughts and ways are superior and wiser than our own, we are not to judge God, but to honor and consider Him as infinitely greater than ourselves. Anyone who clings to sin cannot truly welcome the Savior who perfectly hates it.
“Let the wicked forsake his way” refers to the natural way of the wicked, where they are led by their sinful feelings, dispositions and uncontrolled emotions. The wicked must forsake this way completely, no matter how much pleasure they may have derived from it over the years. Anyone who claims faith in Christ yet continues wallowing in sin is a liar, for “the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4).
The Incompatibility of Sin and Salvation
We can only go on in wickedness if we plan on going to hell. But if we hope for God’s forgiveness and heaven, we must let go of all our evil deeds. “Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:15) — hell is sin fully matured. There is no promise of forgiveness for those who persist in wickedness, but for the repentant sinner, God offers pardon.
Those who truly trust in what Christ accomplished will be so transformed that they will hate the sin they once loved.
God’s Benevolent Thoughts Towards His People
God’s thoughts and ways toward us are ones of peace, not destruction. If we follow and obey Him, He will let us know we are ever in His mind and He has not forgotten us. His thoughts are for our benefit, not our harm – but this is only possible because of the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, shed on the cross.
Transformative Power of Trust in Christ
Those who truly trust in what Christ accomplished will be so transformed that they will hate the sin they once loved. They will rush out of the wicked way they once relished. They will turn to the Savior they once hated, as they come to see sin’s true exceeding sinfulness. People must first begin to feel the great evil and guilt of sin. They must also change their minds concerning Jesus Christ – He may currently mean nothing to them, but if they want Him to save them, He must become everything. And they must change their view of themselves, seeing their utter unworthiness before a holy God.
It is wrong for people to judge God according to their own limited thoughts and ways. God’s thoughts and ways are infinitely beyond our comprehension.
Committing Our Ways to the Lord
Whatever the Lord plans to do, He will make it happen – if we will only commit our way to Him. As Psalm 37:5 instructs, “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.” This is the wisest course of action, for we can’t “bring it to pass” ourselves, but must leave it in the hands of the One who is able. We must commit everything to the Lord – our plans, our behavior, our very selves. We must place it all in His hands and trust Him completely, for we certainly cannot make things happen on our own. Wisdom dictates that we leave it to the One who can do what we cannot.
The Futility of Judging God’s Thoughts and Ways
It is wrong for people to judge God according to their own limited thoughts and ways. God’s thoughts and ways are infinitely beyond our comprehension. This is true in His plan of salvation for mankind, which is all of grace and allows no room for human boasting.
Casting Our Burdens on the Lord
Are you in trouble right now? Commit your troubles and your way to the Lord. Are you walking a difficult path, unsure of the right way? Commit every situation to Him, and you won’t have to handle it yourself or let your thoughts be upset by it. “He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19). You can cast all your cares upon Him, for His grace is more than sufficient.
God already knows all our concerns, desires, needs and ways. But He desires us to come to Him and lay our entire situation before Him, trusting that He will respond and supply all our needs. “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved” (Psalm 55:22).
We can only see the beginning, but God sees the end from the beginning, and “…we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
The Incomprehensible Nature of God’s Thoughts
“For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11). We can only see the beginning, but God sees the end from the beginning, and “…we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). God’s thoughts and ways are beyond our comprehension.
The Necessity of Transformation in Salvation
True faith believes in a living, active God. And it creates a hatred of sin in the soul – a change of heart and life that proves the reality of that faith. What good is wanting to be saved if there is no transformative work within? It is faith in God alone that truly saves us. To all unbelievers, the call remains: “Ye must be born again” (John 3:7).
If we want to be saved from sin, we must turn from our sins. Christ did not come to spare men in their sins, but to save sinners from their sins. When He saves us from sin’s punishment, He also saves us from sin’s power. He makes us holy even as He secures our salvation. But those who insist on continuing in sin cannot be saved.
To be married to Christ, we must first be divorced from sin. We cannot walk in God’s way and the way of evil simultaneously.
The Holy Spirit’s Role in God’s Plan
There is no purpose for the Holy Spirit if people could receive forgiveness without being born again and receiving a new heart. The Spirit’s work is to transform us, not simply provide pardon while leaving us in our wickedness. This would contradict the very plan of salvation. If we refuse to forsake our evil ways, how can we enjoy God’s forgiveness? To be married to Christ, we must first be divorced from sin. We cannot walk in God’s way and the way of evil simultaneously. “No man can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24) – we cannot serve both the Savior and sin.
The Judge of all the earth cannot clear the guilty. Sin’s penalty must be paid. The pain of sin is God’s call for us to return to Him. When Jesus was born, the angel said He would “save His people from their sins” – but if people could be saved in their sins, what need would there be for a Savior? Even the very thought of evil is sin. If we dwell on and delight in sinful thoughts, we are guilty before God, whether or not we ever act on them. True repentance requires giving up all those perverted mental indulgences that please our flesh.
Aligning Our Will with God’s Thoughts and Ways
We must think of God first, then yield our will to His. We must pray and cry out to Him for mercy, trusting in His way of salvation through Christ. When we do this, we become new creatures, able to delight in continuous fellowship with our Heavenly Father, whose thoughts toward us are only of peace. When we can simply say, “Lord, Your will be done,” it glorifies Him far more. We are to commit ourselves and our ways to Him, allowing His will to be done, without questioning or complaining when things don’t go our way.
God’s thoughts and ways are whole-hearted and honest, bringing perfect results. He never leaves His people without direction or plan.
If we truly want to be saved, we must forsake our wicked ways and evil thoughts, accepting humbly in return, God’s thoughts and ways. If we repent, God will blot out all the evil of our former life and no longer hold our sins against us. But we cannot do this on our own – it requires the power of the Holy Spirit working within us. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life…” (John 3:36). Those who trust in Christ and rely on the value of His sacrifice prove their faith by confessing it and receiving the Holy Spirit’s power to conquer indwelling sin. Are you one of those people?
Trusting in the Perfection of God’s Ways
God’s thoughts and ways are whole-hearted and honest, bringing perfect results. He never leaves His people without direction or plan. We must simply trust Him, stand on His Word, and believe He will make a way. As 2 Samuel 22:31 declares, “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all them that trust in Him.”
[Additional image credits: Featured image (when applicable) by Nhil Banda from Pixabay ; Opening image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay]
