9For our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect), and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect).
10But when the complete and perfect (total) comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away (become antiquated, void, and superseded).
11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside.
12For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understandfully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood [by God].
Yesterday a friend of mine reminded me of something very important. I know in part and prophecy in part. In other words- I DON’T KNOW EVERYTHING!!!!!!!( Shocking I know) What I mean is God gives a message, a dream, a vision, a prophecy….whatever you want to call it and sometimes
L I get so caught up in it and looking into my life and trying to think of the way everything going on in my life will connect to the aforementioned message/dream/vision/prophecy that I put God in a box. I think along the lines of ‘Hey God, for the message you gave me to come to pass, you gotta do this or do that’. And so when I was reminded that I know only in part, I became so relieved! I’m human and limited and imperfect while He is God, limitless and perfect. So who will I trust?
I’m a quote person, so obviously I have a couple that are prevalent and here they are:
We’re not Doubting that God will do the best for us; we’re wondering how painful the best will turn out to be – CS Lewis
I read this and laughed- seriously (I bet you did too) coz it’s so true! A lot of my struggle with alignment with the will of God and giving up my own ideas for myself has not been about doubting God’s plans are better and bigger; its been about doubting my ability to go through the pain. Because there is pain, never allow anyone to tell you otherwise. Giving up your rights is painful, giving up a dream is painful especially if God gave you that dream to begin with. But you can see the flaw in my thinking- its focused on me (remember I am human, limited and imperfect) instead of focused on Him (God, limitless and perfect). Because I can’t in my own strength, He says “I can, through you”. That’s His grace and His love, that though I have to go through the pain (it being necessary), He is there with me, strengthening me and loving me through it.
Persistance in prayer doesn’t change God. It shapes us for the answer- Bill Johnson
Earlier on in the year when I got my first rejection, God gave me Luke 18:1-7. When I got it, it was my driving force to pray (still is). But never make the mistake of seeking the hand of God before seeking His face. I realize that yes, when I first got this scripture, it was what I needed to not feel dejected or abandoned by God. But later this scripture came to mean to me how much, in praying persistently, God was changing me. He knows what His answer will be and how He will answer. What He is doing is changing me so that when He does say it, my response will be aligned. I don’t have a measure to see how much I have changed, but God is the potter and I am but clay- can the clay say to the potter ‘why did you make me?’. I need to be constantly mold-able in His hands. And God already told me the method He will use for me- prayer and not just that but persistent prayer. And so with my heart on the alter, I pray away……
God is preparing you for what He has prepared for you- Ed Young
This is a constant reminder that every season has a reason and every reason is part of a plan that my eyes cannot see or my mind comprehend. And to God, the journey is as important (if not more important) than the destination.
Now knowing all this is well and good but I have come to value the importance of everyday starting from the beginning- Asking God for a clean heart, one that desires to follow Him. Some days its easier to ask than others but I’ve found that focusing on God instead of me has a natural response of ‘Here I am Lord, do with me what You will’.
Oh course worship songs help and this one took the words right out of my heart:
