Do You 'Counsel' God?

"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out!" Romans 11:33 The pride of man fancies himself something far more than he really is. The pride of man keeps him from God because to acknowledge that there is a God, a creator of the universe - that of necessity would suggest that if God created me, I must be accountable to him. And mankind bristles at the thought of being held accountable. "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed." John 3:19 The wise man realizes the truth that he is accountable to God and surrenders his life to him. He thinks it ends there, but oh that is only the beginning, for that man will go on to learn how unsearchable are the ways of the Lord, how deep, how beyond all human reasoning. As he continues to walk in surrender he begins to experience the wonder of God working things out in his life in a way far different, far superior, and far more joyful than anything he would have experienced on his own under the guidance of his own "wisdom." This has to be experienced to be understood. Not until a person begins to walk in this adventure will he ever, ever fathom the depths and delights and joys of following the One whose ways are unsearchable, but which are all designed to bring God's best ...for those who are willing to surrender their pride and who have surrendered all to him. "For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become his counselor? Or who has first given to him and it shall be repaid to him?" Romans 11:34-35 After knowing God this way, the very thought of "counseling" God becomes totally and comically absurd. Even so, many believers who know God only come to him with their suggestions - and that would be laughable if it weren't so sad and so empty. I frequently remind myself of the story of my salvation, how God had to go before me to set up the circumstances, and how I had to be in the right place at the right time, with no idea what was about to happen. When I think on this, it dispels any notion I might have of suggesting to God how he might do things. In every story of my many years of walking with him, in every single story he went before me to set the circumstances up to make the story work. That is awesome! It establishes my trust in him and reminds me of my place before him. Friend, if you have been telling God how he should do a thing concerning a problem in your life, sit down and think about this. He is GOD. You have the right to bring your problems to the Lord, but you do not have the right to suggest to him how you want them solved. And once you learn that thoroughly and cease all "counsel" to God, once you let HIM do the counseling, you will find much to your amazement that he knows exactly how to conduct things in ways you never, ever imagined. And as you watch him do that, your heart will swell with wonder and absolute delight. And THEN will come to pass the saying: "DELIGHT yourself also in the Lord, and HE shall give you the desires of your heart!" Psalm 37:4