How to Cooperate with God

Sometimes things in life just don’t seem to be jiving. That can often be our finite human perception. But is that an accurate one?

I’m here to tell you — it’s not. I’m going to give you two examples from Scripture.

The Rewards of Faith & Obedience

SPIRITUAL BACKDROP: The Exodus (see Exodus 14) — I would bet that when Moses led Israel the long route to the Red Sea he was wondering why. All of Israel mocked him. It just didn’t make sense. Look at any map. The wilderness destination was within a few miles. But no! God led them the loooong way. Why? He had a plan to destroy and defeat their enemies permanently. This was no spiritual slip. It was a slick set up. While Israel appeared to be flanked by miles of water and trapped by the Pharaoh and his army, God turned the tables entirely. He parted the Red Sea and drown the entire Egyptian army — leaving the strongest and most prosperous nation on earth utterly defenseless.

The result? Egypt cowered, and all the world feared Israel and their God. Nobody dared mess with Israel.

You can find those Egyptian remains at the bottom of the Red Sea to this very day. A worthy reminder not to contest God’s plans, wouldn’t you say?

DON’T EVER UNDERESTIMATE GOD.

His ways are high above ours. And His ways are past finding out. Dare we mess with God’s strategic plan for our lives? Are we really so confident in our own ways? Dare we disobey Him like Saul who thought he could keep the spoils? What if Moses chose to listen to the people’s groaning? What if he disobeyed God and led the people the short route?

I dare not think of the immediate repercussions and eternal consequences of that decision.

DARE TO HAVE A PERFECT HEART TOWARD GOD.

A perfect heart toward God honors His will and wants only what He wants — even when it doesn’t fit our plan or agenda. Even when it doesn’t make sense with what He’s spoken or promised. A perfect heart toward God looks like David’s heart — one that knows, loves, serves and worships Him even in the most distressing of times. A perfect heart trusts God. It is based on who He is and the perfection of His character — not on the imperfection of our circumstances or our limited understanding of His ways.

The Rewards of Folly & Disobedience

SPIRITUAL BACKDROP: Saul’s Army & Amalek (see 1 Samuel 15) — With that said, let’s look at the consequences of Saul’s decision to spare the spoils. God gave him a command to destroy every man, woman, child, and animal. Oh but Saul had a better idea. He saved the oxen and took the spoils. He even spared the king. Well, guess what? God took the kingdom from Him and gave it to David instead. He even removed the Holy Spirit and His anointing from Saul and gave him a demon — which eventually drove him mad. Saul’s insanity crossed all boundaries with God. That demon spirit drove him to his death where he plundered himself with his own sword. God has taught us all a lesson in Saul: there is a brand of insanity that only comes with pride, folly, unbelief and disobedience — which God calls rebellion and witchcraft. Take notes.

Saul had no fear of God at all, and he had no inheritance with God whatsoever.  Who wants that kind of ending?

No, thank you.

DARE TO COOPERATE WITH GOD, DESPITE YOUR LACK OF UNDERSTANDING.

DARE TO OBEY HIM WHEN IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE.

His Ways & Wisdom

God’s ways are higher than our ways. Some things honestly cannot be explained, and if He were to tell us, we wouldn’t get it. We don’t have the spiritual grid for any possible explanation He could give us. We must remember that we are children. Following God requires childlike trust and faith. I want to challenge you today to surrender your own plans, along with your own wisdom, and follow Christ explicitly — despite your lack of understanding. Just do what He says. Get your orders for the day and cooperate with Him — even when it doesn’t make any sense.

Seek His face daily. Take up your cross and follow Him — one day at a time. As Christ said, worry about today. Tomorrow has enough trouble of its own. Stay on target with Him and don’t run ahead of the game.

Simply do what He says. Believe Him and be obedient.

Ask of God and submit your questions to Him. And be willing to accept His answers.

Stop guessing and assuming things upon God that are not true. Repent of the sin of presumption.

Be willing to accept the intricacies of God’s plan for your life that remain hidden, unsolved, and complex. There is great wisdom and protection in that. You don’t need to know everything. Be glad that you don’t.

Enter His rest. When you follow the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End — it works out as planned.

Trust what God has spoken, revealed and confirmed. He cannot lie.

When we understand who God truly is, and who we are in relationship to Him, we come to understand that we are utterly dependent upon Him. We have no choice but to cooperate with Him if we want to see His will come to pass on earth as it is in heaven. We really are at His mercy.

A PROPER FEAR OF GOD WILL ALWAYS LEAD TO OBEDIENCE.

The best prayer you can pray is this:

LORD, teach me Your ways and lead me in the way everlasting. Please tell me what I can do to cooperate with You so that all You have planned and purposed for my life will come to pass. I’m willing to surrender and be obedient. Protect me from myself and my own ways.”

YOUR FAITH AND OBEDIENCE ARE WHAT GOD WANTS.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD WITHOUT FAITH AND OBEDIENCE (Hebrews 11:6).

That is a prayer He will honor and answer. You don’t need to know everything. No one needs (or wants) that kind of responsibility. All you need to know is how to follow Him — today. 

Cheers & Shalom,

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