Have you seen that daily comic strip which sometimes features a cartoonish looking “God”, standing on a cloud, looking down at planet earth through a telescope?

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Pretty funny.

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Well, actually, maybe not so funny!

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Because in reality, that’s how a lot of people actually envision God: a detached, less-than-infinite-being, who merely monitors the daily comings-and-goings on Planet Earth!

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The Helix Nebula – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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A DETACHED GOD?

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Okay, so does God indeed have a giant telescope through which He looks down at this faraway planet to monitor the comings and goings of Mankind?

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Well, there are many people who seem to think He does!

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In other words, most people have a very dim conception of God, as though He’s a “hands off” God, who pretty much allows Mankind to “do our own thing”, as the saying goes.

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But is that how the Bible portrays God?

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Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license

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MANKIND NOT IN CHARGE

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Well actually, the Bible presents a vastly different portrait of God from “that other god” whom the world acknowledges.

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First, listen to this verse from Jeremiah…“O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” Jeremiah 10:23

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Now this verse removes the idea that Man is in charge of his own daily routine.

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Magnifying Glass – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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WHO’S IN CHARGE HERE?

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But if Man is not in control of his own steps, then who is?

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Listen to this next passage for the answer…“A man’s heart devises his way: but the LORD directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

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So here is revealed the incredible and unnerving truth which very few people understand, nor would even want to understand: that even though a human’s heart seeks after its own lusts and desires, it is God who is the Divine Overseer and Guide of that man’s daily footsteps!

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Man walking – cropped and altered image – Wikipedia – Share-alike Lic.

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GOD, THE GRAND ORCHESTRATOR OF THE UNIVERSE!

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In other words, when we go through our day, we are not the ones who are in ultimate control of what we do.

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Oh yes, we choose to do our own selfish deeds.

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But it is God who orchestrates our daily actions, intertwining them with the daily actions of every other human being on the planet!

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People on crowded Delhi Bus – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike

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“GOD WORKS ALL THINGS TOGETHER FOR GOOD!”

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Now, this is quite a bold and incredible statement to make!

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But does the Bible have any other confirmation that this is true?

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Yes, the Bible confirms this truth.

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Listen…

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,

to them who are the called according to His purpose.”

Romans 8:28

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So here is one more affirmation that God is in complete control!

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Mall – Fashion Centre at Pentagon City – Wikimedia – Share-alike license

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GOD IN COMPLETE CONTROL!

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But why even bring all this to light? After all, there are a number of similar devotionals on this website.

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Well, perhaps the point that needs to be made is this: nothing which happens in the world, is taking God by surprise! Nothing!

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What we need to understand is the following statement: “Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite.” Psalms 147:56

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God is infinite!

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Sunrise from Burrow Mump, Burrowbridge, Somerset – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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“HIS UNDERSTANDING IS INFINITE!”

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Yes, we have an infinite God! And the Bible even goes further by saying,

“Remember the former things of old:

for I am God, and there is none else;

I am God, and there is none like Me,

Declaring the end from the beginning,

and from ancient times the things that are not yet done,

saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure:'”

Isaiah 46:9, 10

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There is nothing in this world that God did not know about from the beginning! His understanding is infinite! he is the great Orchestrator. Oh yes, we choose our sins.

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But it is God who orchestrates the entire human race on a daily, hourly and even a moment-by-moment basis!

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Holy Bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.

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GOD LIMITS EVIL

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Now this should give us great comfort! Because, as we look around at this crazy, topsy-turvy world today, it seems as if things are completely out of control!

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But the fact is, even the Devil must get permission from God to perform his evil in the world…

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“Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee (God):

the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain.”

Psalm 76:10

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So here we have another confirmation that God is in full control of the goings on in this world! Satan is very limited in what he can do. In His infinite love, God only allows that which is for His own glory. No more. No less.

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Millions of protestors in Tahrir Square – Wikimedia Commons – Share-alike License

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GOOD NEWS!

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Now here is the Good News! Yes, we can go through our each and every day with complete confidence that our great and merciful God is in full and complete control over all events, both great and small…

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“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?

and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

Matthew 10:29, 30

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Here is another of God’s, “great and precious promises”, which we each need to incorporate into our daily consciousness! (2nd Peter 1:4)