"The Lord nullifies the counsel ('consultation, scheme, strategy, counselors') of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the people." (Psalm 33:10, NASB)
Don't you just hate that, "frustrat[ing] the plans of the people"? Rebellious humanity has always pursued the path of his own, "consultation, scheme, strategy, counselors." How's that going?!? But then, and I might strongly emphasize, "....God, Who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us," keeps doing, "nullifies the scheme/frustrates the plans...."
Illustration: I have been accused of bragging when I use my football experiences, but I have never said that I was a good football player, just had the privilege of playing for a large high school on some very good teams. Hence, I had football scholarship offers to most all of the Ivy League schools, and many Big Ten schools. I was also recruited by West Point and Annapolis; I went for Army. I have thought over the years that I should have dumped the infatuation with Army; what was I thinking?!? Moreover, after I didn't make it to West Point, I hit a youthful sort of panic mode, especially when I learned that by mid June all of the schools' quotas were filled ("The Lord frustrates the plans...."). When my friend, who was going to SMU in Dallas, told the recruiter about it, the said recruiter got in contact with me and said they had an "opening." Without Divine counsel, I took it. I don't like hot weather, and couldn't wait to come back north. All, or at least much, of this could have been averted had I surrendered to, "....brings the counsel ('scheme, strategy')...to nothing." Many know exactly what I am talking about, and have their own stories.
Of course, in Father's infinite mercy, He did, "work together for good." What amazes me over the years is that our Lord Jesus Christ has a wonderful way of taking, in the words of the old hymn, "some poor fainting, struggling seaman You may rescue, you may save." Jesus has and continues to rescue this "poor fainting, struggling seaman." While we have all been tossed about in the currents, eddies, and backwashes of the river of life, our Great "Pilot" somehow brings us to His Purposes, and will ultimately, sometimes with great effort "battling" our self-will, bring us to Port. "Let the Lower Lights Be Burning."
Don't you just hate that, "frustrat[ing] the plans of the people"? Rebellious humanity has always pursued the path of his own, "consultation, scheme, strategy, counselors." How's that going?!? But then, and I might strongly emphasize, "....God, Who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us," keeps doing, "nullifies the scheme/frustrates the plans...."
Illustration: I have been accused of bragging when I use my football experiences, but I have never said that I was a good football player, just had the privilege of playing for a large high school on some very good teams. Hence, I had football scholarship offers to most all of the Ivy League schools, and many Big Ten schools. I was also recruited by West Point and Annapolis; I went for Army. I have thought over the years that I should have dumped the infatuation with Army; what was I thinking?!? Moreover, after I didn't make it to West Point, I hit a youthful sort of panic mode, especially when I learned that by mid June all of the schools' quotas were filled ("The Lord frustrates the plans...."). When my friend, who was going to SMU in Dallas, told the recruiter about it, the said recruiter got in contact with me and said they had an "opening." Without Divine counsel, I took it. I don't like hot weather, and couldn't wait to come back north. All, or at least much, of this could have been averted had I surrendered to, "....brings the counsel ('scheme, strategy')...to nothing." Many know exactly what I am talking about, and have their own stories.
Of course, in Father's infinite mercy, He did, "work together for good." What amazes me over the years is that our Lord Jesus Christ has a wonderful way of taking, in the words of the old hymn, "some poor fainting, struggling seaman You may rescue, you may save." Jesus has and continues to rescue this "poor fainting, struggling seaman." While we have all been tossed about in the currents, eddies, and backwashes of the river of life, our Great "Pilot" somehow brings us to His Purposes, and will ultimately, sometimes with great effort "battling" our self-will, bring us to Port. "Let the Lower Lights Be Burning."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I can never say it enough, "Great is Thy Faithfulness." Amen.
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Today's text is a central prayer I pray for our nation; so be it.
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Today's text is a central prayer I pray for our nation; so be it.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
