When It’s Me vs God – Who Wins?

I talk about my plans. A lot. They are broad, deep, and sometimes extremely shallow! My plans encompass many areas of life. I write about them often because planning, though necessary, always falls victim to the day or circumstances. If I were to pit me against God… My plan. His plan. Who wins?

For a right-thinking person, this should be no contest. There’s no way I’ll pit myself against God and expect to win!

I’ve listened to leaders (or leader wannabe’s) many times in my adult life say what they were doing, where they were headed, and how successful their choice in life would be. Without God, however, who cares? If a child of God describes what they are planning on doing and does not consider God’s plan, why on earth are we paying attention to them?

In 1994, we started a church in Anchorage. I felt God was leading me there. I’m sure he would bless me wherever I was to go. However, there is something about going where you know God is leading!

Why is it that we think our walk with God will be like rolling in clover? We want to relate to the “ease of life,” lack of battles, valleys, or struggles. Reality says we will fight these and many battles along the way.

Consider the words of the Apostle Paul:

• For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)
• Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12)
• I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: (2 Timothy 4:7)
• Call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated; ye endured a great fight of afflictions; (Hebrews 10:32 – assuming Paul is the author)

Our fight is not against each other, whether they be Christians or non-Christians. Rather, our fight is against this world and its system. We do not wrestle with flesh and blood, but principalities, power, rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places! Our fight is against the enemy of the soul.

Listen! Our fight is not even with God who has better thoughts about us and the things we fight against.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD,
thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
(Jeremiah 29:11 KJV)

David cried out, “Let thy tender mercies come unto me…” (Psalms 119:77), and even Isaiah cried out with the same thought (Isaiah 55:3). But it was Jesus that gave us a pathway to rest, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) No one else can do what He does!

So, regardless of what is happening in your life that is different from your perceived path – God is not your enemy, nor your defeat.

We Are Not In This Alone

As life happens to us, we need to show the next generation how to live through the challenges we are faced with…

We know Hebrews 11 is our “Faith Chapter.” The writer shared the life of faith of those who have gone before us. So, when he starts the next chapter (man’s invention, not God’s):

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
(Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV)

We can relate his “cloud of witnesses” to those who forged the way of faith before him. But let’s add some depth here. Look at the “crowd of witnesses” today! Many are waiting to see how we will stand up to the onslaught! Live it right, and someday you will become that cloud of the past for some future traveler.

Here’s My Thought Today

Life happens! So, prove your mettle against the yardstick of those who went before! Be the measure showing the next generation how to live through the challenges you are faced with.

Were we to simply trust in God, will He will direct our steps??

A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.
(Proverbs 16:9 NKJV)

David planted a thought in a Psalms (61:3), the Lord is a shelter and a strong tower from the enemy. Solomon, his son, caught this thought and increased it into a major premise of life – one that we must grab hold of and use…

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.
(Proverbs 18:10 NKJV)

David was the cloud. Solomon was the crowd. Now they are both our cloud to this present crowd!

I remember a man preaching a sermon many years ago, and it was titled something like this, “When the Righteous Retreat.” Regardless of what you are facing, when you need the Shelter of God from the enemy, retreat into the Strong Tower of His Name for a place of safety…

Remember! You are not strong enough to face the challenge yourself, but all things are possible with God.

Lost Muscle Memory – Making Sense of Life One Thought at a Time

There are times we "forget" how things go. We've lost the memory of the muscle to do something. You can restore and rehabilitate it, sure, but what if you've lost your muscle memory with God? — Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michael-gurley/support

1. Lost Muscle Memory 04:41
2. The Purpose of Snow 04:34
3. Of All The Things We Want 02:49