From one moment to the next

I just finished reading (another) book by Ted Dekker called, Blink of an Eye. It was such a neat way to think about God's hand in our lives.

It showed how free will and God's will circle around, within and about each other. I will admit I've always been confused as to how God can know everything that is going to happen, but yet we still have free will. How is his will done, if ours changes and can stand in the way of the plans he has for us?

This book was such a unique way to understand this concept. It showed a main character that suddenly was blessed with the gift to see all possible 'futures', each changing from moment to moment based on what he did, what the person near him did, what each person did around him. Near the end this self-professed non-believer found God almost 'by accident' with a simple prayer. That prayer then made him see all futures, but all now were intertwined by God's will.

I thought about it and how huge this idea really is. Our every moment, every second can be influenced and changed, altered or even aborted due not only to our actions and thoughts, but everyone around us, and what they will do or say. But bringing God in, attaches him to these moments. And now, God plays a part. Yes, the moments change over and over again presenting alternate 'futures' for us, but I know that God keeps up. He can see all these futures, all these choices, and He, like us can alter what is done from moment to moment. So does he know what will happen? Yes. But it's not as black-and-white as that, he knows ALL possible futures, based on what we as humans choose to do from one moment to the next. Allowing him in to help us, to author our story, our futures, has such a different spin now. How intricate our lives are if dissected moment by moment, second by second, future by possible future, and he's there, throughout all of it. So in the next ten seconds, I could go get coffee, keep writing, yawn, or even blink. Each of these could happen, but they are up to me. He sees them all, all possibilities. When our choice is made he acts accordingly, then foresees the next string of possible futures. The thought of it alone is enough to make my head hurt!

But, it kinda makes you feel special doesn't it?

Beyond that it explains a lot of questions. How he can take a single moment, the opportunity that we give him, should we lay that moment, that circumstance, that trial, that pain, that worry at his feet, how he can avert it, or allow it, all the while taking charge of it, so that he can bring us back to his glory.

Wow.

Verse to Ponder: II Chronicles 16:9a (NIV) For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.