Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Shhhhhh. Hear that?


So do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Let me pull out just a few of the action phrases from Isaiah 41:1-20 

be silent /  renew their strength / let them come / meet together /
stirred up / calling him / subdues kings /
turns them to dust / pursues them / moves on unscathed / 
carried it through / calling forth / seen it and fear / earth trembles /
I have chosen / I took you / I called you / I have chosen / have not rejected / do not fear /
do not be dismayed / I will strengthen and help you / I will uphold you / 
Your God who takes your hand / says do not fear / I will help you / do not be afraid / 
will help you / declares the Lord / I will make you / 
You will crush them / You will rejoice / the Lord will answer / will not forsake / 
people may see and know / may consider and understand / 
Lord has done this / The Holy One has created it

(psssst.... I highly recommend you read the whole thing)

When crisis hits we are often encouraged (or we encourage others) that everything is going to be okay.  Or everything happens for a reason.  Are those particularly helpful statements when your world is falling apart?  I know they aren’t for me.  Not because the person saying the words doesn’t want in their heart for things to be okay.  It is because the person saying those words does not have the authority to make the statement true.  But when we read these words from the Lord himself in Isaiah 41:10 they take on a whole new meaning. 

His promises have never been compromised.  God’s Word Never Fails.  When we completely surrender to His will we will find a joy that is so immense, so unexplainable, so powerful that even the crises of this world cannot shake us. 

So are we going to listen to our well meaning friends for support and hear that everything is going to be all right?  Or are we going to listen to God who tells us not to fear?

Did you know the same letters that used in SILENT also are also used in LISTEN?

I hope that you’ll take a moment to be silent and listen to God’s word speak to your heart today.

May God bless and keep you,

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