Isaiah 40
"Comfort, comfort my people," says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem." (Verse 1&2)
I love how gentle God is in how He deals with us. He is wanting to comfort us and He speaks tenderly to us. He is patient and loving toward us.
"Listen! I hear the voice of someone shouting, "Make a highway for the Lord through the wilderness. Make a straight, smooth road through the desert for our God. Fill the valleys and level the hills. Straighten out the curves and smooth off the rough spots. Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. The Lord has spoken!" (vs. 3-5)
This challenges me to prepare myself for the Lord. I am a temple for Him. He dwells in me and His light shines through me. I want Him to fill the valleys in me- the places where I do not have confidence and boldness and courage. I want Him to level the hills- to take away my pride and the parts of me that feel as though I am greater than God because I do not act as though need Him or go to Him for help. I am nothing without God and I hate when my pride makes me think I can do things on my own. Apart from Christ I can not do anything and I can not please Him! I want Him to the level the hills in my heart. I want Him to straighten out the curves and smooth off the rough spots- the parts of me that are not in line with his perfect and pleasing will; the parts in me that do not bring Him glory. Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed- this is what I desire above all things- to bring God glory- total complete glory with every breath and with all that I am. I am desperate for Him- I need Him. I need Him to do these things in me. I need to bring Him glory- He is worthy of nothing less.
"Messenger of good news, shout to Zion from the mountaintops! Shout louder to Jerusalem- do not be afraid. Tell the towns of Judah, "Your God is coming!" Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in all his glorious power. See, he brings his rewards with him as he comes." (vs. 9-10)
I am so thankful that I know God is coming in new and greater ways into my life and my heart. I am glad He is continuing to come in all His glorious power. The rewards He brings with Him are so great- I crave them. My reward is more of Him- to know Him more and to trust His goodness. There is so much hope in the promise that yes my God is coming in all His glorious power and bringing his rewards with Him as He comes. Praise God for this!
"He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young." (vs. 11)
What more can I ask for!?! These words give life to my spirit. I know God is feeding me and caring for me so faithfully just like a shepherd watches over his flock. He is giving me all that I need right when I need it. He is never early and never late. I can feel His arms carrying me through the impossible and comforting me. I love the image of the Truth in this scripture. God is snuggling me and holding me so affectionately and close to His heart. I can hear the passion that is beating through His heart. He wants me to come to Him so He can embrace me and carry me and hold me on His chest close to His heart.
The last line of this scripture makes me weep because it is providing for a deep need I have. This is a promise I am holding on to. He will gently lead me with Eli. When I often do not know what is right or best I can hold on to the hope that God will lead me and help me. More than that He will do it in a gentle way. I need His help! I need Him to gently lead me with Eli.
"Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed out the mountains and the hills? Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Who knows enough to be his teacher or counselor? Has the Lord ever needed anyone's advice? Does he need instruction about what is good or what is best? No, for all the nations for the world are nothing in comparison with him. They are but a drop in the bucket, dust on the scales." (vs. 12-15)
The questions asked here are so humbling and encouraging. God is so mighty. Nothing and no one can compare to His greatness and majesty. The nations of the world are nothing in comparison with Him. They are but a drop in the bucket and dust on the scales. How narrow is my perspective! If only I could even conceive a small speck of God's greatness. He has held the oceans in His hands! Imagine that! We can only hold a few drops of water and yet He can hold an entire ocean. This gives me so much faith to know His more than able to do anything! Nothing is to difficult for Him. With God all things are possible. He is in control and does not need my help or advise. I can and should submit to Him and His ways and authority for I do not know what is good or what is best. He does not need my help to give Him advice. He can be trusted completely because He knows what is best and wants that for me. I want what He wants for me. He is perfect and wise and strong and pure. Words are not sufficient in describing His surpassing greatness. But with all that I am and with my life I want to show Him I do believe He is great and mighty. I can show Him that by trusting in Him and letting Him lead and direct my life and my heart. I live by faith by letting God be in control.
"To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?" asks the Holy One. Look up to the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out one after another, calling each by its name. And he counts them to see that none are lost or have strayed away." (vs. 25- 26)
Again my faith is being built up and encouraged. No one can equal God. As I look all around me and as I look up in the sky at the stars I can be reminded that no one can compare to my God! God is even in control of the stars- He brings them out and calls each of them by its name. Imagine that!- Every star in the sky has a name that God has given to it. God cares for them so well that He counts them to see that none are lost or have strayed away. If God cares for the stars like this which are just merely stars- imagine how much greater must He care for us! He surely calls us each by name and searches for us and watches over us to make sure that we are not lost or have not strayed away. He cares for us so deeply. He wants us to always be near Him. He wants us to be close to Him. He wants to gently lead us and hold us close to His heart!
"O Israel, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? How can you say God refuses to hear your case? Have you never heard or understood? Don't you know that the Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding." (vs. 27-28)
God does care! He does see our troubles. He always hears us as we cry out to Him. He is the everlasting God and the creator of the earth- but He is not distant from us in any way. He never grows faint or weary. As we come to Him with troubles He will never turn us away. He can and will always understand us. We are never alone. He is with us and as we come to Him He draws us close to His heart. He hears, He sees, He knows, and He understands!!!
"He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." (vs. 29-31)
I do get tired and worn out; we all do- but in that position- in our weakness- as we come to Him He will give us all the power we need. He will give us strength, He holds it out before us offering it to us. He offers His strength to us.
I will never give up! Instead I will wait on the Lord and as I do that I will find new strength. How do I wait on the Lord? I wait on Him by coming into His presence; by coming to be with Him. I wait on Him by sitting at His feet- by reading His word and by praying to Him. I wait on Him by being quiet and still before Him. He has promised me here that as I wait on Him I WILL find new strength. I will find more than just a little bit of strength to get me by- I will find so much strength that I will fly high on wings like eagles; that I will be able to run and not grow weary and walk and not faint! Only God can give us strength like that. That is the strength I want and need. I will wait on the Lord who can and will renew my strength.
Wait on the Lord and come to Him- He is mighty and strong. He will give you all that you need. He hears you, He sees you, He understands and He loves you more than you can conceive. He will give you all that you need. He will give you strength- His strength. Praise God the Rock of Ages forever and EVER! Amen.
posted by Kellie # 3:38 PM
