God loves each one of us so deeply we cannot understand it.  Most of us know we do’t deserve His love.  But, the more we realize the distance God would go to save us from ourselves, our sins, our lostness and all the calamities that go with being self-driven; the greater His love, mercy and grace are magnified when we really believe what God is saying and doing is indeed really real.  God comes closer into view when we let go of all that stands between us and the One who loves us most. 

I realize His great love every time he sends a person to stand in my way to say what I need to hear in my confusion while seeking His will for my life.  It happened just yesterday.  Last week, I prayed and struggled with God over how I could still contribute to His church.  I asked God for His help daily.  But each day nothing of significance came to mind.  Then Sunday morning, while making my way to the worship center, a dear friend stopped serving coffee and came out to talk with me.  Her words were exactly what I needed to hear—a message from God—about the peace and hope I already possess from God.  Then while the sermon was spoken passionately about the same thing I was pondering all week, God spoke so fast to my heart, I could hardly write it down quickly enough.

Oddly, that has happened before when I seek what God wants because God wants me to spend time letting go of what is holding back His best before telling me what is next.  In the wait, I am taught to, well, wait.  Because I have walked this life for quite a few years with God, I have learned that after the wait, God intervenes when the time is exactly right.  The excitement and enthusiasm for God and HIS work builds beyond what we can hold inside and we “can’t keep our mouths shut” or “hold our tongues” about what God has done, is doing and will do in each of our lives.  Before leaving the worship center, I shared what God laid on my heart to another dear friend.  THIS is how God is always at work in our being.  And it is so amazing!

God not only loves us beyond our wildest dreams but He truly delights in all the details of our lives!  He is always there before we “get there” in our understanding.  He is there before we know we need His help in troubles and calamities.  His plan for us was decided by him before we were born!  We make life hard by trying to add to His plan or change His best plan for us.  He knows us better than we know ourselves for he created us!  (See Psalm 139 for real encouragement that is truth!)

Are we listening, letting go, being still and waiting on God to do what He does best to restore, revitalize, renew and refresh what He started in us long ago?  The answer is reflected in our behaviors.  Mm, ponder and pray.

Isaiah 62, The Message

Look, Your Savior Comes!

^1-5 Regarding Zion, I can’t keep my mouth shut,
    regarding Jerusalem, I can’t hold my tongue,
Until her righteousness blazes down like the sun
    and her salvation flames up like a torch.
Foreign countries will see your righteousness,
    and world leaders your glory.
You’ll get a brand-new name
    straight from the mouth of God.
You’ll be a stunning crown in the palm of God’s hand,
    a jeweled gold cup held high in the hand of your God.
No more will anyone call you Rejected,
    and your country will no more be called Ruined.
You’ll be called Hephzibah (My Delight),
    and your land Beulah (Married),
Because God delights in you
    and your land will be like a wedding celebration.
For as a young man marries his virgin bride,
    so your builder marries you,
And as a bridegroom is happy in his bride,
    so your God is happy with you.

^6-7 I’ve posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem.
    Day and night they keep at it, praying, calling out,
    reminding God to remember.
They are to give him no peace until he does what he said,
    until he makes Jerusalem famous as the City of Praise.

^8-9 God has taken a solemn oath,
    an oath he means to keep:
“Never again will I open your grain-filled barns
    to your enemies to loot and eat.
Never again will foreigners drink the wine
    that you worked so hard to produce.
No. The farmers who grow the food will eat the food
    and praise God for it.
And those who make the wine will drink the wine
    in my holy courtyards.”

^10-12 Walk out of the gates. Get going!
    Get the road ready for the people.
Build the highway. Get at it!
    Clear the debris,
    hoist high a flag, a signal to all peoples!
Yes! God has broadcast to all the world:
    “Tell daughter Zion, ‘Look! Your Savior comes,
Ready to do what he said he’d do,
    prepared to complete what he promised.’”
Zion will be called new names: Holy People, God-Redeemed,
    Sought-Out, City-Not-Forsaken.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God wants His best for all who believe in Him.  Believe and be saved.  

God will transform us as He transforms the circumstance and situations that surround us if that is necessary.  Allow Him to do what He needs to do in us.

God is always at work.  God saves us.  God changes us.  God does not change in His compassion, love, mercy, and grace that is inexhaustible for us.  “Look, He sent a Savior!” says Isaiah.  Hallelujah!

God will have no rest till He accomplishes His purposes for His people, and the world will have no peace till He succeeds. He asks us to “give Him no rest” (v. 7) but to intercede for Israel and Jerusalem, for the prayers of His people are an important part of the way God works.  “Day and night they keep at it, praying, calling out, reminding God to remember.”  So we pray,

Lord,

We pray for lost people to come to your saving grace, to hear your voice above all other voices in this world, and to obey what you say for what you say is for our best!  I pray for you to do in me what you must so I will be all you created me to be before doing anything of significance for others.  Help me to love like you love us without conditions.  Help me to serve like you showed us to serve without favoritism.  May all I think, say or do be pleasing to you—even today.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen