Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

This week’s theme was inspired by the upcoming Independence Holiday. Although the holiday celebrates America’s Declaration of Independence, the Holy Spirit is seeking to transform, rather than conform, to this independent mindset. Accordingly, we’re going to focus on our total dependence on God. We’ll begin by recognizing we can’t truly have things our way.

Today’s scripture, Isaiah 45:9‭-‬12 (NLT) admonishes…
What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’ Does the pot exclaim, ‘How clumsy can you be?’ How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father, ‘Why was I born?’ or if it said to its mother, ‘Why did you make me this way?’” This is what the Lord says— the Holy One of Israel and your Creator: “Do you question what I do for my children? Do you give me orders about the work of my hands? I am the one who made the earth and created people to live on it. With my hands I stretched out the heavens. All the stars are at my command.

Consider…
Burger King has one of the most famous slogans, which is ‘have it your way’. But when you step back and think about it, can you really? How would they respond if you asked for a Big Mac? Would they go to the nearest McDonald’s and order their special sauce and sesame buns to fulfill your order? Of course not. Or how about if you just asked them to prepare your burger with the cheese cooked inside the meat, known as a ‘Juicy Lucy’, would they make it your way? Despite having the ingredients, they wouldn’t do what you ask. Heck, I will make my point even simpler, if you just ask them to season your burger, with salt and pepper, you will get the same unseasoned burger they prepare for everyone, with salt and pepper packets thrown in your bag. The fact is, the ‘Have it your way’ tagline isn’t really saying you can have whatever burger you want, whatever way you want it. No, the tagline is advertising the fact that you can customize what they offer to your taste. But let’s be clear, your options are limited to their offerings.

In today’s scripture, the Lord was asserting His Soveriegn power and authority as Creator of all things, which means contrary to the world’s assertion, we can’t have it our way. In fact a few verses earlier He said…
I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the Lord, am the one who does these things. – Isaiah 45:7 NLT

It’s vital that we never forget that God does as He pleases. Notice I said does, not can do. That’s because God’s sovereignty is not permitted by us, we’re mere witnesses of it. It seems we sometimes forget that we’re here at God’s pleasure, He’s not here for ours.

Like Psalm 100:3 (KJV) tells us…
Know ye that the LORD he is God: It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Which leads me to Proverbs 16:9 (NLT) wisdom that reminds us…
We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.

The perfect example of this truth is Jonah. God told him to go to Nineveh, and despite his plans to go the opposite way, he learned that the Lord merely allowed him to go on an unnecessary storm tossed, fish bait detour to get to where the Lord originally directed him to go.

Don’t confuse your detours as changing God’s direction for your life. You will get where He determined you will go, which includes the eternal lake of fire for those who reject Jesus as Lord and Savior.

For us believers, it’s true the Lord has promises that He wants us to experience, but as He chooses, not because He’s obligated. And while God keeps His promises, that doesn’t mean we can demand His fulfillment, especially because sometimes we misunderstand them.

For example, an often misquoted promise is ‘my God will supply all my need according to His riches in glory’.
However, the actual scripture that is the origin of the misquote says…
I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness. At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:17‭-‬19 NLT

Paul was blessing people who had blessed him. He was saying God will honor your sacrifice to Him. He was also merely echoing the Jesus’ promise shared in Luke 6:38 (NLT), which is…
Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

Do you see the difference? God isn’t just giving to you because of who you are, He’s doing unto you as you have done to others. (Luke 6:31)

Today’s transformative realization is short and sweet. Contrary to what the world says, it’s Creator says recognize your life is on His terms. While you have the options of how to live it, it’s His choice on how to respond. Don’t confuse His mercy for His acceptance or approval of your substandard behavior. Paul said it this way in Galatians 6:7 (NLT)…
Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.

God is saying it’s okay to ask for things, just make sure it’s within His will. 1 John 5:14‭-‬15 (AMP) explains it this way…
This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose] He hears us. And if we know [for a fact, as indeed we do] that He hears and listens to us in whatever we ask, we [also] know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted to us] the requests which we have asked from Him.

Here’s the secret sauce to God’s answered prayer…He says yes to Himself!

Therefore I encourage you to always pray, Lord have your way!

Today’s song is…
Have Your Way

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)