"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. For as the rain and the snow come down from
heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth, and making it bear
and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so shall My
word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, without
accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I
sent it." Isaiah 55:8-11
One of our neighbors is a Jehovah's Witness. The Lord has
permitted many hours of learning, for me, and witnessing to this dear, yet
deeply deceived young lady. There were times I would try and cram the
Scriptures down her throat in a zealous attempt to "rescue her soul"; needless
to say she'd leave very upset with the intention of never speaking to me
again. Yet the Lord continues to bring her back. "Jehovah keeps
bringing me back to you.", she has said on several different accounts. At
one point we sat under a crate myrtle tree, in my yard, for over five hours
discussing the Scriptures. She finally turned to me and said, "You mean
all I need to do is accept the fact that I'm a sinner in need of a Savior,
repent and ask Jesus to be Lord and Savior over my life?" Praising the Lord that
she understood and with a grateful heart I responded, "Yes. And accept His
gift, salvation - eternal life." To which she replied, "It's to
easy. No, I don't accept it. I have the organization and they take
care of me." My heart sank and I thought I'd blown it and that I'd
never win her to Christ. Then, as I diligently sought the Lord about
how come she was so close but rejected and why does He keep bringing her back,
the Lord spoke to my heart through the above verses in Isaiah. It's not me
who will bring her to Christ! He'll bring her to Himself, in HIS
time. All I'm to be is the emptied, willing, obedient vessel for Him to
use. He also taught me that as long as my heart was seeking after HIS will
then He would filter what I say; what an awesome God.
I may not understand the "why's" of situations He arranges
in my life, but I'm learning that it's okay that I don't understand because
His thought's and ways are not the same as mine (nor yours) and His word which
goes forth from His mouth (via an obedient vessel) shall not return to Him empty
without accomplishing what He desires and without succeeding in the matter for
which He sent it (verse 11).
Though my neighbor may still be a Jehovah's Witness, in His time
His word will return to Him having accomplished what He desires. In the
meantime I'm to let go and let God do His mighty works.
How about for you, do you have a Jehovah's Witness type in your
life? If so beloved, I encourage you to believe our LORD when He tells us His word doesn't return to Him empty -
it accomplishes what He desires.
Have a wonderful day in the Lord!
April
Correia
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