“Our job is not to win the battle. It’s to follow God’s battle plan.”

A thought by Larry Osborne (2015-04-01) from his book, Thriving in Babylon: Why Hope, Humility, and Wisdom Matter in a Godless Culture (Kindle Location 1985). David C. Cook. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

I know. That is not really what we want to hear on a Monday morning especially if you live in Los Angeles, California. I mean every day on our freeways there is a battle to win. Nobody waits for a space to open up so you can change lanes. No we race to get in front. We must win the battle. But that isn’t necessarily God’s way.

Larry says, “There will be times when following God’s plan doesn’t seem to be working. But to those who have Daniel-like wisdom that begins with the fear of the Lord, that doesn’t matter. Even when God’s way seems to lead nowhere, it’s still the right path to take. He’s always right, even when we think he’s wrong. That’s why we call him God.”

But I know what is best. No you don’t. You and I aren’t God.

Proverbs 3: 5-7 (NIV) says it best when it says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes.”

Larry then says, “God draws straight lines with crooked sticks. He always has. It’s foolish to give credit to the stick.”

He also said, “What we call failure might well be the foundation of what God calls success. And what we call success might not be so great when we see it in the rear view mirror.”

Remember, “Winning or losing is not the right scorecard. Obedience is. When we do the right thing, we’re being faithful. Even if we get the wrong results.”

So is it winning or trusting and obeying for us?

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