July 15-16

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” —Isaiah 55:8-9

I love my world to be ordered. In control. Predictable. And I like it when everyone follows the rules to do things the way I have laid them out. If only it was that easy. If only our world would cooperate with us and fit into our neat, tidy box, life would pass by much more smoothly. Agree?!

This last Wednesday, hot on the heels of Brexit, David Cameron, then Prime Minister, was nudged out of office before his intended time of departure, and Teresa May, on the winning vote of her parliamentary colleagues, installed in 10 Downing Street, in his place, until a general election takes place in three years time.

Teresa immediately went to work to produce order and control as she would like it, slicing into the Cameron Cabinet, installing a fresh, new team to support her and laying down new rules. She is already making it clear that she will demand cooperation and compliance to follow those rules as she has laid them out. A hard task lies ahead of her as she works towards a post-Brexit future for the United Kingdom.

Pre Teresa May the referendum resulting in Brexit, uncovered the root of an obsession to control, a root of pride and distrust. Surely, if we truly believed that God was wise, sovereign, in control, and knew what was best, then we wouldn’t struggle so much with the desire to hold the reigns. We would be content to know that God is in control and busy working His purpose out. 

Nebuchadnezzer's dream of the statue, outlining history down through the ages (Daniel 3:) proves that as humans, we are flawed to want to be the drivers of our own destiny and life. We have to allow God to take control, we have to submit to His Kingship over every circumstance. He is a good Father and loves us more than we can grasp! And He is so deserving of our trust.

“And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever” - Daniel 2:42-44

Yes, the EU is fragmenting, breaking up. It seems as if the whole world is on the move as multitudes seek peace, safety and security, and those in authority cling ever tighter to their last vestiges of authority and control. We have reached the statues feet.

Even when life doesn’t make sense, when we are wrestling with the unknowns, or scared of what lies ahead, we can quote this promise found in Scripture, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) He will make your paths straight, He will not lead you somewhere and abandon you. Christ is on His way – a new history is about to be created.

God’s Word tells us that His ways are higher than ours. His knowledge and wisdom are far greater than man’s. He can see the whole purpose behind the things that happen in our lives. When life is not the way we think it's supposed to be, our vision is much more limited. It only makes sense to trust the One who can see the situation from every angle, and who we know has our best interest in mind as he sets forth the dream for our lives.

Acknowledgements Ewomen.

Music today is another from Bryn's collection – Charlotte Richie presenting “Revelation Song.”