"My thoughts are not your thoughts. My ways are not your ways." Isaiah 55:8
God’s way is unique in relation to man’s way. The gospel is God’s direction. It is not man-made. There is no man-made way that could have ever come up with it or at any point devise it.
Paul stated, “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:11-12).
The gospel descended from heaven, exclusively by revelation, since man’s reasoning never follows the road of redemption.
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’ All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations — (Isaiah 65:2).
What Does 'My Thoughts Are Not Your Thoughts' Mean?
When we see "My thoughts are not your thoughts" In Isaiah, God is talking to the Jewish nation. God had given the gospel first to the Jews. Paul mentions in Romans 10:21 that God had stretched his hand to the Jews unto a disobedient people. The people of Israel rejected the gospel, so God rejected them and sent the gospel out.
Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:46).
For what reason was it fundamental for the gospel to go to the Jews? God had arranged that through the Jewish people all the people of the world would come to know God (Genesis 12:3). Paul, himself a Jew, adored his people (Romans 9:1-5) and wanted to offer each of them the chance to go along with him in broadcasting God’s salvation.
Tragically, numerous Jews did not perceive or recognize Jesus as the Messiah, and they did not comprehend that God was offering salvation to everyone, Jew, or Gentile, who comes to him through confidence and faith in Jesus Christ.
So again, we see that man would not and did not think as God thought. Man thought that he knew all that he needed to know. If the unrighteous man would only forsake his wicked ways and thoughts, and come to the Lord, God will have mercy on him and pardon him (Isaiah 55:7). Man’s thoughts and ways are only on earthly things, not heavenly things.
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:2-3).
“For you died” means that we ought to have as little craving for this world as a dead individual has. Our lives died when Christ died for our sins. He took our place on the cross, yours and mine. The Christian’s genuine home is the place where Christ resides.
My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am (John 14:2-3).
This gives us an alternate point of view on our lives here on the planet. To “set your affection on things above” signifies that we should take a gander at life according to God’s point of view and look for what he wants.
This is the counteract-ant or antidote to being materialistic; we acquire the appropriate and proper viewpoint on material merchandise when we take on God’s perspective on life. The New Living Translation puts it this way: “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine."
Can Christians Grow Closer to Having God's Thoughts?
The more we consider the life that is around us from God’s perspective, the more we live in amicability and harmony with him. We should not turn out to be excessively attached to what is just transitory and temporary.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy —think about such things (Philippians 4:8).
Paul said that whatever things are lovely, honest, just, and true, we are to think on those things, the things of Christ. Life is brimming with its more modest issues and obviously, they are genuine to us. In any case, the most important need for us is to break through to Christ. That should precede all the other things in this life.
What we put into our brains will influence what is displayed in our actions and is spread by our words. Paul advises us to program our brains with the thoughts that are just, unadulterated, true, of good report, ethical, and worthy of praise.
Do any of us have issues with polluted musings and fantasies? We need to look at what we are placing into our heads through the internet, TV, books, motion pictures, and magazines. We need to remove the destructive intake with healthy material.
Most importantly, we need to be reading God’s Word every day and seek him in prayer. We should pray that he assists us with getting our minds focused on what is acceptable and unadulterated. It takes time and practice, yet it can be performed.
We as a whole live in a broken world. We cannot take a stroll on any road of any city without seeing it. Our eyes get grimy by what we see, our ears get clogged by what we hear, and afterward our brains become polluted by what we have allowed in. Shouldn’t Christians be worn out by this brokenness?
If Christians invest their time and energy in the foulness and problematic things of this world, then the Christian’s life will have no power. There are countless Christians who are powerless due to their time spent filling their minds with the accepted messages of this broken world.
How long do we spend time going through the Word of God? How long do we spend time worshipping our Lord and Savior? The Word of God is a mirror, and in it we can observe the magnificence and the glory of the Lord.
What Does Isaiah 55:8 Mean for Us Today?
As we spend time in God’s Word and as we spend time alone with the Lord, we obtain freedom, we obtain liberty, we obtain grace and righteousness.
Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:20-22).
As Christians, we cannot keep away from all the evilness that is in this world since we live in a corrupt world. Notwithstanding, we can ensure that we do not give evil any traction by abstaining from enticing and tempting circumstances and focusing on complying with and obeying God’s Word.
A Prayer for Godly Thoughts
Lord, I pray that You would help me take every thought captive and think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). I want to have a positive mind and life, honoring You in my thoughts. Help me to discipline my thought life with all my heart. Help me to believe Your truth on a daily basis. I want Your truth to be my final authority. I give You permission to show me the strongholds in my life. I need Your Spirit’s help and ask You to break these destructive strongholds by Your divine power (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). I cannot do it myself, and I acknowledge my dependence on You. I need You to show me the lies I believe. You can break the power of the lies in my life.
Your Word is truth (John 17:17). It has power, and it judges my thoughts and attitudes (Hebrews 4:12). Expose the lies and show me where my thinking is not lining up with Your divine truth. [If there is a specific lie you have believed that you are aware of, confess it by name to the Lord: i.e. “Lord, forgive me for believing that I am a failure. Forgive me for believing You don’t love me or care about me.”] I repent of ways of seeing my life that are contrary to Your Word. Help me to be disciplined like the Apostle Paul who lived in such a way as not to be disqualified (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). He went into strict training for You because he wanted to win. Help me to learn to say, “No” to the attacks and fiery darts of the enemy and say, “Yes” to Your way of victory, peace, and joy.
“I love you, LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold… Praise be to the LORD, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me… Part your heavens, LORD, and come down; touch the mountains, so that they smoke. Send forth lightning and scatter the enemies; shoot your arrows and rout them. Reach down your hand from on high; deliver me and rescue me
from the mighty waters, from the hands of foreigners whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful. I will sing a new song to you, O God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you, to the One who gives victory to kings… Blessed are the people of whom this is true; blessed are the people whose God is the LORD” (Psalm 18:1-2, 144:1-2, 5-10, 15). In Jesus’ name, amen. (by Debbie Przbylski)
For further reading:
How Do We Take Our Thoughts Captive?
How Does Satan Distort Our Thoughts on God’s Truth?
What Does it Mean That God Works in Mysterious Ways?
How Do We Walk by Faith and Not by Sight?
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