It sounds silly but I’m starting to read Scripture looking for God, not for my next assignment. I’m trying to take myself out of the picture for a minute. I’ve been reading through Isaiah, which can confound me every time, but since I’ve been looking for God, I’ve seen so much in these chapters. I might not understand what’s happening in the prophecies and stories, but I have a clear picture of who God is and what He is like, and this leads me straight into prayer, which is really where I need to be.
So I thought I’d share a glimpse into what this looks like, in the event that it is at all helpful or insightful for you. I’ve written a conversation that I had with God one day. He’s in bold italics, and I’m in regular type.
…………..
Lord, what did you wake me up to do today?
Trust me.
How do I trust you?
Believe what I say about Myself.
[What I found in Isaiah 26:
source of salvation
source of peace
everlasting
immovable
trustworthy
all-powerful
just
righteous
majestic
loving
passionate
completer of our works
the only living God
glorified
source of life and resurrection
wrathful
Then I thought about myself again.]
Am I any of those? Even “loving” and “passionate” make me question if I really am.
These properties belong to God alone. Soul, hear and listen and learn – why tremble at what life brings when your God is the source of salvation? What shall you fear? Where else will you go? Be still, my heart, and know that He is God. He will neither abandon nor condemn you. But He will raise you to new life every new day. Will you not give over your fears, your wounds, your despair?
Will you trust Me?
…………..
See, I didn’t get very far. He said the same thing at the beginning and the end of the conversation. But He was patient, wasn’t He? He gave me exactly what I needed: more of Himself. To see Him. I didn’t need a next action; I needed another glimpse of Him.
So often, we want answers, direction, clarity. So often, God chooses to give us just what we need, instead.
#lookup