Lately, my team has helped me realize that I don’t take enough time for myself. Trust me, I’m not that selfless all the time; however, when it comes to taking personal time I am willing to run on fumes for the health and happiness of my team. Slightly ironic, because in order for my team to be healthy and happy, they need to have a leader who is those things. And more.
When I thought I could handle it myself, my wonderful team forced me in my room with my Bible. Such harsh people. But when I came out of that time with my Lord, I couldn’t keep myself from sharing the amazing things that God taught me.
On our long drive from Peru to Bolivia, I was flipping through my Bible and I came across some passages in Isaiah. I knew I had to share it with my team, but I sat on it and prayed about it until the most opportune moment. After that morning of force, God gave me such powerful words through these passages again. The golden platter of opportunity had come.
Isaiah 43:1-2 – “But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.’”
- This was perfect for my team and me to hear, because sometimes we all doubt our calling. He created us and called us by name! Even though we have our doubts, even though sickness comes our way, even though Satan attacks us in various ways, He is always with us.
Isaiah 43:10-13 – “’You are my witnesses,’ declares the Lord, ‘and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,’ declares the Lord, ‘that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?’”
- Again, for my team and I this was perfect because here God calls us “witnesses” and “servants”. Not only is He with us, like the previous verses say, but also He is ours—we can call Him ours. I love the last verse here, because this is telling us that no one, not even Satan, can reverse our calling that God has placed on us. So powerful!
Isaiah 60:1-2 – “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.”
- The glory of the Lord is IN us. We are bringing light to these people because we belong to the Almighty God. Can you imagine how our demeanor has changed now that we know and believe that truth? We are walking light. We are living glory!
Isaiah 61:1-3 – “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”
- I love these verbs in here and the imagery of putting these claims to identity for what we are giving people. And because of that, we are called “oaks of righteousness”. I looked up some things about oaks and this is what we are: great strength and hardness, producing fruit and flowers, resistant to insect and fungal attacks, attractive in grain markings, and is the common symbol of strength and endurance around the world. WE ARE these things, ultimately to display HIS splendor.
When I read these in succession to my team, I loved the chronological order that it came in:
1) We are created and called.
2) The Lord’s glory comes upon us.
3) We are anointed into this time.
4) We will become distinct objects to the world.
Now when I walk, I do so with a new found confidence. We are children of the utmost King, displaying His glory to the people of the world. What better reward could anyone ask for?
