10 times in this chapter alone God declares that He is the only God…it seems like that is something that doesn’t need to be said, but then I look at my own life and the culture around me…we so easily turn to entertainment, food, financial stability or our heath as the critical things that stabilize us. They are the indicators of happiness for us…in other words, we have made those things gods…
Lord, help me to look only to You for contentment and trust You only for protection!
The blessings we experience from God are too many to count, but this passage repeatedly reminds that we were chosen by Him, forgiven, provided for and intimately woven together by Jesus. We are not wondering in the world dependent on our own ability…rather we were created for a purpose and blessed in millions of ways to accomplish His plan for us.
Over and over in this passage God declares that He has chosen, called, gathered or formed us. He calls us his own, removes our sin and saves us…for HIS own sake. This is just another passage littered with evidence that He loves us unconditionally, calls us and saves us because of who He is and if those are His motives, we can’t change that no matter what we do.
Lord, help me to live ever more devoted and surrendered to You because of Your incredible character…not any weaker reason like fear or efforts to prove my love. Let me be as purely motivated by agape love as You are!!!
Lord help me to live out the reality that I am chosen, called and strengthened by You; that you are with me, are actively helping me and I don’t need to fear; that I am not rejected, forsaken or alone…but I am pursued and protected by the very hand of God!
Why is Gods timing so much different than what I desire? Isaiah suggests that He wants us to act on His strength not our own…He wants us to trust His plan, not be fixated with our own controlling efforts…He wants us to have a Birds Eye perspective rather than be stuck in the trees…He wants us to have Faith in Him.
Lord, help me to trust your timing, plan and ability! We both know my plans are weak and failing…
Walking with God is not a part time deal, it is a whole time pursuit toward delighted obedience.
