I have never been a fan of Valentines day, so I wasn't really looking forward to today. But God, being His usual wonderful self, had something else in mind.
While on facebook, I saw that an acquaintance post an instagram of her bible, with the caption "Look what I opened up to." I didn't read the verse but immediately went to my bible.
I woke up today feeling empty, tired, and weak. I wanted to hear God speak. I wanted to know that my Abba was aware of my feelings, and like any good father, wanted to comfort me and reassure me. So I opened my bible and my thumb landed on this:
(From Isaiah 58)
“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
Touche, God. Lord, you didn't just tell me what I wanted to hear. You gave me the words I needed to hear.
But I didn't want to just stop reading there. I wanted to read the the rest of the chapter. I wanted to see what else God desired to share with me. So, here are some thoughts on Isaiah 58.
Isaiah 58:1-5
In these verses, God exposes the shallow worship of his people. He expresses that His people fast without pure intentions.
Isaiah 58:6-7
What true worship looks like:
"6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood
Isaiah 58: 8-12
God's promise of blessings for those who truly worship Him
He will say "Here I am." He will continually guide you. He will satisfy your needs. Your waters will never fail.
Isaiah 58: 13-14
God speaks of a true sabbath, and the blessings of keeping it.
"Call the Sabbath a delight"- God calls us to take a delight in the heart and in the purpose of the Sabbath – to honor Him
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Dear Abba,
Thank you for being a loving God. You are the God of the universe, and yet You want to be in a relationship with me. All too often, it's difficult for me to wrap my brain around this. But You love me. You sent Your Son to wash me clean. To make imperfect me as white as snow. Thank you.
And thank you for the incredible journey that You are about to send me on. Thank you for loving me, so that I can go out into the world and love the weary, the broken, and the lost. Thank you for reassuring me that I made the right decision. And thank you for reminding me that even when I am in a "sun-scorched land", You will satisfy my needs and strengthen my frame. I know that You will guide me always.
With love from your daughter,
Lindsey
