I received a prophetic word a few years ago, that suggested that God had designed the reading that I had been doing in the few years prior. This made me stop and think, as I pretty much read whatever takes my fancy at the time - usually from a local Christian bookstore. I read a variety of things but have a good collection of books around the prophetic and missions, and a rather eclectic collection of other things. I love a good book and I love my little bookshelf that sits in my bedroom. I love giving books away for others to borrow and read (It doesn't worry me if they never come back) but I also love to browse my bookshelf and at times re-read a book or two. I would rather spend $20 or $30 on a good book than spend it on other forms of entertainment. A good book will expand my thinking and it lasts for a while too!
I guess this idea of God designing my reading made me think about how much God cares about the desires of my heart and indeed, if He puts them there in the first place. I would be inclined to think that He does, and he cares about the details - even down to the books that I choose. This raises the question, are they God's ideas or mine in the first place?? Are the desires purely mine, or are they there for a God ordained reason?? It gives the concepts of 'Abiding in Christ' and 'Having the mind of Christ' a whole new level of meaning.
Jeremiah 29: 11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
It blows my mind more than a little that God sees the bigger picture. He knows my future, has some kind of plan for my life and then places certain desires on my heart, even if I can't see the whole story. I guess my heart and life just need to be surrendered to some degree to Him for this whole process to work.
It makes me wonder if, in a similar vain, He keeps my heart from chasing things I don't need and in some ways sets my heart on the things that matter to Him? And then if he does that for me, and for others, it should be no surprise at all if we all find ourselves somehow prepared and ready to run - in the right place at the right time for His Kingdom purposes.
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:27-29 (TPT)
God, the searcher of the heart, knows fully our longings, yet he also understands the desires of the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit passionately pleads before God for us, his holy ones, in perfect harmony with God’s plan and our destiny. So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together for good, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose. For he knew all about us before we were born and he destined us from the beginning to share the likeness of his Son. This means the Son is the oldest among a vast family of brothers and sisters who will become just like him.
I have been known on more than one occasion to say that God tends to mess with my heart. I think he messes with my mind as well at times. Indeed life is not entirely a bed of roses, and life happens with all its messes, pain and joys. He definitely has access to my heart. As my Lord and Saviour and as the one in whom I put my trust, this is his rightful place.
In regards to our minds, I believe that God has similar access. I love a good word of knowledge where, just when I need it, the right thing to pray for, or indeed, even the right question, decision or comment in a certain situation, comes to mind. I have heard this sort of thing spoken about as a type of prophetic gift - we can hear God, see visions or dreams, feel things in our body, smell or taste prophetically, know things and then there is a gift of wisdom and revelation, where (I have heard it said) that can we have full strategies and plans that align with the wisdom of God. In recent years I believe I have operated in most of these - generally in small ways that are mostly natural in the way they work themselves out.
1 Cor 2: 7-16 (TPT)
...We continually speak of this wonderful wisdom that comes from God, hidden before now in a mystery. It is his secret plan, destined before the ages, to bring us into glory. None of the rulers of this present world order understood it, for if they had, they never would have crucified the Lord of shining glory. This is why the Scriptures say:
Things never discovered or heard of before, things beyond our ability to imagine— these are the many things God has in store for all his lovers.
But God now unveils these profound realities to us by the Spirit. Yes, he has revealed to us his inmost heart and deepest mysteries through the Holy Spirit, who constantly explores all things. After all, who can really see into a person’s heart and know his hidden impulses except for that person’s spirit? So it is with God. His thoughts and secrets are only fully understood by his Spirit, the Spirit of God.
For we did not receive the spirit of this world system but the Spirit of God, so that we might come to understand and experience all that grace has lavished upon us. And we articulate these realities with the words imparted to us by the Spirit and not with the words taught by human wisdom. We join together Spirit-revealed truths with Spirit-revealed words. Someone living on an entirely human level rejects the revelations of God’s Spirit, for they make no sense to him. He can’t understand the revelations of the Spirit because they are only discovered by the illumination of the Spirit. Those who live in the Spirit are able to carefully evaluate all things, and they are subject to the scrutiny of no one but God.
For who has ever intimately known the mind of the Lord Yahweh well enough to become his counselor?
Christ has, and we possess Christ’s perceptions.
This is a kind- of comforting and encouraging thought. God loves us enough to give us His one and only beloved son - who, at just the right time, died for each and every one of us, that we might come to know - individually and intimately God's love, His wisdom, His ideas, His will, His presence and His desires for our heart. Not only that but he will share with us in such a way, that it will be hard at times to distinguish the difference in what is my idea and what is His. Go figure!
I really do enjoy my little book collection, and now I enjoy the idea that there is some higher significance to them, and I have had someone to help me choose them - even if he did live 2000 years ago.... 😳. I also enjoy the moments when I know for sure that God has spoken and I have picked up on something 'in the Spirit', even if it is a little left of centre field. But in regards to the everyday choices I make, I guess it doesn't really matter whether or not I fully recognise whether my ideas and desires are fully mine, or if they are somewhat inspired by the Spirit of God.
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