“The holy Lord God of Israel had told all of you, “I will keep you safe if you turn back to me and calm down. I will make you strong if you quietly trust me.” Then you stubbornly said, “No! We will safely escape on speedy horses.” But those who chase you will be even faster.” (Isaiah 30:15-16 Contemporary English Version)
God wants to get your attention and my attention today. Reading on through what seems like a long read, going through this morning’s meditation is imperative, and important, and since it is intended to be specifically for you, as well as specifically for me. You cannot say like the objecting lawyer on the old TV series that what I am about to present to you is irrelevant or impersonal, or immaterial. On the contrary! It is all that, my friend!
As you know, I have several wall-hangings with inspirational messages written on them strategically placed in various places throughout the house. Tuesday afternoon, sitting alone, one wall-hanging, placed perfectly on the center of the living room wall for décor purposes, caught my eye and redirected my thoughts from décor purposes to Divine’s purposes.
At first, I wondered if my attention was drawn to the wall hanging intentionally by our all intellectual, in control God. Perhaps my focused attention was not just perchance, but rather explained as fitting in the experience category described as “all things work together for good for those who love the Lord and called according to His purpose.” But as I was wondering why the wall hanging had me gazing and thinking, I turned to read a text message from a fellow servant of the Lord that said, “God is showing you something about you – to make you more self-assured and confident as you go forward to do His will.” I don’t believe this was coincidental. By no means! It was conformational, certainly personal, considering that I am at this season of life where the waters of life are taking me a through new phases. Yes, “phases,” because God is not done with me yet, and there is much more work, different, but still kingdom building related, to do!
The combination of the text and the wall-hanging was not only conformational, but it was also comforting. You see, I got what I needed, right on time. Praise God! Go ahead and shout, “He is an on-time God!”
Now, let us see what the verse just what my wall-hanging has to say specifically to you, or to someone who He wants you to reach out to, being an instrument in their repentance, and/or their return to where they will not drift away from the quiet waters of salvation, or even dangerously drift to the point of apostasy or perhaps be driven into situations that become more dangerous when one’s trust in the Lord provides blessed assurance for better things.
Somebody, again either your or somebody you know, he/she needs to be reminded that If a person wants to be safe, they need to repent and surrender to God. If a person wants to deal with the calamites of life effectively, they need to be quiet, stay calm and depend on the Lord. If a person wants to be strong, have spiritual strength, that person needs to quietly trust in the Lord. If one wants to go in the right direction, they need to let go of the steering will and let God drive you all along the way. Have a superb Saturday! Of course, don’t forget to be in the sanctuary on Sunday! Be blessed!
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 Modern English Version)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King