Greg Laurie daily devotion

Giving God Counsel

For who has known themind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor? —Romans 11:34

Jesus had dropped a bombshell on the disciples. The Bible tells us, “From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day” (Matthew 16:21).

Can you imagine how shocking this would have been? Look at the details in this verse. Jesus had alluded to these things previously, but now He spelled them out plainly. In the original language, the word Jesus used for “killed” speaks of a violent death. Imagine what the disciples must have been thinking. Whoa! What? Lord, what are you talking about? Being killed? How could that ever be a part of any plan?

So Peter decided to straighten Jesus out. The Bible tells us, “Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!’ ” (verse 22).

But Jesus shot back and said, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men” (verse 23).

Peter was trying to give God counsel. Have you ever done that? I know that I have—on many occasions. We inform God of our plans and then ask Him to bless them. We start telling God what to do.

It has been said that you can’t stop a bird from flying over your head, but you can stop it from building a nest in your hair. While we can’t stop a thought from knocking on the door of our imagination, we don’t have to invite it in and make it our houseguest. As Peter learned, there are things we think that we should not say.

Summary sentence: Have you ever tried to give God counsel? Do you share your plans with Him and then ask Him to bless them?

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Greg Laurie daily devotion - June 13, 2011