“O storm battered city, troubled and desolate. I will rebuild you on a firm foundation of sapphires and make the walls of your houses from precious jewels. I will make your towers of sparkling rubies and your gates and walls of shiny gems”
Isaiah 54:11-12
This is the verse I have clung to over the past few years, the restoring God, the God of hope when I had none. As Teresa mentioned in the beginning of this study, the Great I AM will speak to you in the manner that you need. He will be what you need Him to be. Have you begun to see this for yourself? As I looked up each verse, I was overwhelmed by just how much He loves each one of us, so much that He does not want to leave us in the state we are in.
Today we have the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us, a gentle nudge from the Dove, a Gift left to us by Jesus when He departed into Heaven. But in the Old Testament, God sent prophets to do just that…to give His people His messages. These messages weren’t always what they wanted to hear. Can you just imagine? I mean who wants to be told that you are not walking in His will and you are about to be punished? I know that being on the receiving end of “constructive criticism” is not easy (especially when I know I’m wrong) but, as Jesus followers, it is our duty to hold each other accountable and to do this in a loving, godly manner. Praise God that He loves us enough to send messengers our way to redirect our path. He is relentless when it comes to His children, right?
Just as Isaiah’s message to the people was “return, repent and be renewed,” so should ours be. “Fear not, you will no longer walk in shame. He is your Redeemer!” Isaiah 54:4-5
He is my _________________ (fill in the blank). For example: do you need Hope? He is your HOPE. “From eternity to eternity, I AM your God. No one can oppose what I do, no one can reverse My actions.” Isaiah 43:13
Do you need Forgiveness? He is your FORGIVER. “I, yes I alone, AM the One Who blots out your sins for My Own sake and will never think of them again.” Isaiah 43:25
Do you need Rest? He is your REST. “I will be your God throughout your lifetime, until your hair is white with age. I made you and I will care for you, I will carry you along and save you.” Isaiah 46:4
Do you need Comfort? He is your COMFORTER. “I, even I, am the One Who comforts you, so why are you afraid of mere humans who wither like grass and disappear?” Isaiah 51:12
Friend, His message to us is one of hope, forgiveness, rest, and comfort; but we must return, repent, and be renewed in Him to receive all that He has planned to give us, blessing upon blessing, and we must not be timid with His message. He wants us to be bold! Isn’t this what we were created to do?
There is a song that has been playing in my mind the entire time I have been writing. It is by the Sidewalk Prophets and goes like this: “If there’s a road I should walk, let me find it. If I need to be still, give me peace for the moment. Whatever your will. Whatever Your will, can You help me find it?”
He will rebuild us and continue to work in, and through us, until His grand finale’ — the Coming of Jesus!!
How is He speaking to you today? As you wrote out each verse from today’s section, which of His names really spoke to you? Would you tell us about it?
I love each one of you and I’m praying for you.
Blessings!!
Let’s Pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, Daddy, the Great I AM, You are so many names to us in the midst of whatever we are going through at the moment. You become what we need. You are the Redeemer, Deliverer, Comforter, our Resting Place, Beginning and End. We praise You for satisfying our every need. We thank You for Your unfailing love and Your Presence that never leaves us. You give us Your words of wisdom so that we know what to say to all weary souls. Thank You for giving us an understanding of Your will. May we have the strength to boldly carry it out for all to see so that You alone are glorified…for it is in Your Son’s precious Name we pray.
Amen.
