Am I Thinking Something or Someone?

S - Revelation 10:1-7 (NLT): "Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, surrounded by a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face shone like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire. And in his hand was a small scroll, which he had unrolled. He stood with his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. And he gave a great shout, like the roar of a lion. And when he shouted, the seven thunders answered. When the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write. But a voice from heaven called to me: "Keep secret what the seven thunders said. Do not write it down." Then the mighty angel standing on the sea and on the land lifted his right hand to heaven. And he swore an oath in the name of the one who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and everything in it, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it. He said, "God will wait no longer. But when the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God's mysterious plan will be fulfilled. It will happen just as he announced it to his servants the prophets.""

O - God's mysterious plan is exactly that - mysterious.  The mystery is greater than the unknowns which are many.  This mystery includes such realities as the fact that there is a plan at all, the plan itself (methods, timing, players, etc.) and our part in it (we're often unaware of it).  The Greek literally reads "the mystery of God" and this is exactly the point.  God's plan is not comprised only of ideas, principles, goals and timelines … it is infused with himself.  It is mysterious because he is mysterious … he can be known and yet is beyond all knowing; revealed in Jesus and yet higher than the highest heavens. God's plan does not only require God's activity for fulfillment it requires God … his person and presence not just his activities or power.

A - Most of us fear that we will somehow miss God's plan and the real issue is will we miss his person?  This is the classic difference from the earliest of our existence on the planet to now.  God has never flickered or struggle to have a plan and to be able to completely accomplish that plan.  Adam, Eve, Cain, Able, Seth, Moses, Pharaoh, Saul, David, Rahab, Esau, Jacob, Judas, John, Peter, Pilate, Paul, Ananias and Sapphira … all involved one way or the other in God's mysterious and unstoppable plan.  Some were more aware than others but what makes all the difference in this world and in the next is the response to his person and presence.  Even Jonan found that a recalibration to the presence changed everything for him and yet changed nothing in God's plan (Jonah 2:8-10). Today is my day to come near and stay near.  Everything else is not the point and when I'm near the plan will never be the problem.  Jesus' point: the kingdom of heaven is at hand, repent (change the way you think)!

P - Lord of all and Lord of me,

The mystery and the misery of your ways coupled with my own fallen nature want me to focus on the things rather than on you.  I am not happy about his malady, I only confess it (you already know it) so that I may be helped by you in the changing of how I think about today, your person, purpose and plan.  Lord, I think every day starts the same - with you all things are possible AND every day you're knocking at the door of my life/heart asking for entrée though you have it by right.  Lord, I throw open the door to you, your person, presence, purpose and plan and ask that I can be near and stay near you.  I believe you. I welcome you and your will. I trust you.  I mix your promises with faith unto fellowship with you (Father, Son and Spirit) and on to the new wineskins, mulberry trees in the ocean and that which is too wonderful for me.
Repenting (i.e. thinking differently),
Steve