God's plans vs ours: Proverbs 19:21, Amos 3:7, and Isaiah's throne room
A host shares from his current Bible study: no Bible story works well because someone brought a plan to God — Noah, Isaiah, Abraham, and Jesus never did; it is the opposite, us aligning with his plans. Proverbs 19:21 ('many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand') and Amos 3:7 (God reveals his plans to his prophets before he acts) anchor the point. Isaiah 6 gives the picture: in God's presence Isaiah can say 'here I am, send me,' versus transactional prayers that amount to 'don't worry, I've sent myself.' Asked point-blank how prayer looks for a 'less ethereal' man, Mike answers that he used to pray his own plan ('I'm going to follow you today') instead of asking 'where are you going and what time do I need to be there?'
More on Obedience
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'What would I fight God on?': buildings, pews, and the zero-fruit youth group
- What would I fight God on — and would my heart go along with following him?
Ben shares what he ran into in the last couple weeks: 'what would I fight God on even if I knew it was him?'
From No. 603 · Found Out
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Discerning impressions: the exact phrase, obedience, and daily decisions
- Did God give you the exact phrase?
Mike shares a fifteen-year-old unresolved memory of someone saying "God told me," then frames the practical question: "did God give you the exact phrase?"
From No. 593 · Do You Hear What I Hear
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Would God's design still be best without the promise of eternity?
- Would God's principles for living still be the best life on offer even without the promise of eternity?
- If God said he didn't care whether you were faithful in your marriage, would you still be faithful?
Mike poses a thought experiment: if the Bible changed its tune and there were no everlasting heaven, would he still choose the life of sacrificing for others over selfishness and greed — he says yes, it is the most inherent joy in the world God created.
From No. 531 · Just For The Taste Of It
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Ask the pastor: Ezekiel 39:17 — God telling a prophet to speak to birds and beasts
- In Ezekiel 39:17, why would God tell a prophet to speak to birds and beasts, and is there precedent for God interacting with animals this way?
Boova was struck by Ezekiel 39:17, where Ezekiel is told to speak on God's behalf to the birds and beasts, inviting them to feast on God's defeated enemies.