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Understanding the Thoughts of God
Isaiah 55:8
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD."
Have you ever wished that you could understand or even know the thoughts of God? There have been many times in my life when I wished I could know the exact thoughts of God on an issue that seemed to be unclear. In the verse above, God makes it clear that He does not think like we do. Likewise, He makes it clear that He doesn't do things like we do them. We must realize that God's thoughts are not tainted by sin like ours. Therefore, we cannot think like God, for His thoughts are pure and His ways are always right.
God is not a changing God. Hebrews 13:8 says about Jesus, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." God says again in Malachi 3:6, "For I am the LORD, I change not;..." Because God does not change, if we ever learn the thoughts of God on one subject or decision, then we can understand His thoughts in this area all the time, for He never changes. Likewise, if we learn God's way in one area we will always know His ways whenever we face that area again because He never changes. Therefore, we must spend time with God if we want to understand His thoughts and ways.
The first way to spend time with God is through studying the Scriptures. Psalm 92:5 says, "O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep." You will notice in this verse that God's thoughts are like a treasure that must be mined. We mine out the thoughts of God through studying the Scriptures. That is why God says in 2 Timothy 2:15, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Through studying the Word of God He will show you His thoughts. Therefore, daily spend time in His Word so you can learn His thoughts.
The second way to spend time with God is through prayer. I have learned that as you talk to God through prayer that He talks back to you. When God begins to talk to you through your prayer life, you will learn His thoughts. Furthermore, you will learn the thoughts and ways of God by how He answers your prayers. As long as we don't push God to give us our way, then every time He answers a prayer teaches us what His thoughts are on a certain way or His thoughts about that area.
The third way to spend time with God is through serving Him. You will learn a lot about God through serving Him. When you work with people, you learn about them. You see their way of thinking when you watch them work. Likewise, when you serve God you will learn His ways. When you learn the ways or methods of God, then you will learn His thoughts. Thus, by learning God's ways and thoughts you understand His thought process.
God is a predictable God. He never changes in how He does things. Therefore, if you will spend time with God through studying the Scriptures, in prayer, and by serving Him, then you will then begin to understand His thoughts.