Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.”
As a Pastor I like to collect stories that teach us something. The following story is about what we perceive as a disappointment.
I like the story about the fellow who went to the pet store in search of a singing parakeet. Seems he was a bachelor and his house was too quiet. The store owner had just the bird for him, so the man bought it. The next day the bachelor came home from work to a house full of music. He went to the cage to feed the bird and noticed for the first time that the parakeet had only one leg. He felt cheated that hed been sold a one-legged bird, so he called and complained.”What do you want,” the store owner responded, “a bird who can sing or a bird who can dance?”
We are like that at times. We want something, but God sees our real need. He provides the need and we are disappointed that he did not give us what we wanted. Now our all gracious God put in place an ability to pray and ask for His goodness to supply things for us.
Romans 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
He also supplies us with the HolySpirit so that we get the right thing in Gods eyes instead of the desires of our heart. The desires of our heart are fickle at times.
James 4:3 “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”
Mat 6:8 “Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”
Mat 6:32-33 “(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these this. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Like I have said, God knows our needs and has what we need prepared for us. We may seek happiness when sorrow is more important to us. ^Corinthians 7:10 “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.)
Galatians 6:6 “Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.”
The Preacher is to tell others of the “good things” that God can and will do for them. Remember that Gods thoughts are not our thoughts and God’s ways are not our ways, but his wyas are perfect while ours, well, lets just say that we miss the mark of what we truly need and we ask for things that will hinder instead of allowing us to grow in grace.
There was an old television show called, “Father knows Best”. Do you remember it? If you change that title only a little it is perfectly true. “Our Heavenly Father knows Best” is a true statement. 2Samuel 22:31 “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried:…”
Let me end this with a portion of Psalms 19 that allows us to see that Gods Rules (His Law) is perfect for man to live by and that God will reward any man who tries to keep them.
Psalms 19:7 -11 “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.”
