Isaiah 65, Philippians 4

Isaiah 65

I find myself intrigued (to say the least) with the give and take of communication I’m experiencing in my life right now with God. There are days I feel that His voice is so thick I can hear them. Then there are days when, in my flesh, it becomes easy to let doubt creep in.

I am so hungry to stay in God’s wake. I am so excited to see Him lead us to each “next step”. I feel so ready to answer each call. God has gone before us so deliberately that I’ve found myself fearing that He will eventually stop leading us so boldly.

How foolish of me.

In today’s reading of Isaiah, God gave me great comfort. He reminded me that it is HIS plan that we follow Him. Not ours. HIS desire to lead us is far greater than our desire to follow (although that seems impossible right now). He is always looking for those who will follow. He is always leading through His Spirit. He is always at work. Even when we’re not looking or listening.

Verse 1 and 2 says: (1) "I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, 'Here am I, here am I.' (2) All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations.

If this is the way our God feels about those who didn’t seek Him, how does he feel about those who do? Oh, how He wants us to discover and see His will and leading! When we don’t sense it, it’s not because he’s not at work. So we have to determine is it (1) something in our lives that is keeping us from hearing His voice? Or is it (2) simply not time for the next step?

God, as we press into you, give us your JOY in being PATIENT as we wait on YOU. God, may we absolutely bask in this journey you have us on! Each day is a gift!

Philippians 4

God, place our minds on the things that you cherish. Today we pray the ability and desire to live out Paul’s exhortation. Help us dear God to walk upright that your hand and your peace might be upon us:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. – Phil 4:8-9