~Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430)
The only sovereign I recognize is he who sets fire to the suns and, with one blow of his hand, can send the worlds rolling in space.
~François René, Vicomte de Chateaubriand (1768-1848)
Who are we to think that we can somehow “optimize” the plans of the very One who goes before us? Are we not missing something when we come to lines of thinking like this?
that he may have compassion on him,
~ Isaiah 55:8
Surely, beloved, it is the best path for us to most surely believe that our thoughts about what G_d wants, and what He wants us to do fall woefully short of their actual scope. His Word is THE sum and substance for all faith and practice in this world. But for us to assume that the Whole Counsel of the One who was and is and is to come, is completely contained by the 66 books of the Bible is just as surely foolish as He is wise.
And just as surely, would that we might rest in the fact that everyone one of our prayers to Him and the answers He gives are given the full counsel of His manifold wisdom. These requests are all considered in the council of the ages. They are weighed in the balance of the very purposes of the Most High – and from there His decisions are meted out on our lives and history.
And we think we are going to somehow improve on this? Somehow, we are going to bring about some sort of change to the situation by what we think – or even do?
Yes, G_d has given us a free will. But let us not forget that His ways are beyond infinite. Our true free will in NO WAY impedes the Sovereignty of the Mighty One who spoke existence itself into existence.
And perhaps, a takeaway here is that we can simply rest in the sovereignty of a holy and righteous G_d. Let us only and ever seek Him with everything in our lives. And then, in doing so, leave the results in His able hands. Pretty much anything we do will be tainted at some level by fleshly intent. He is the only One who is perfect and can make all things work together for good.
