Jonathan on 210305

Scripture

18But GOD's not finished. He's waiting around to be gracious to you.
He's gathering strength to show mercy to you.

GOD takes the time to do everything right--everything. Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.

19Oh yes, people of Zion, citizens of Jerusalem, your time of tears is over. Cry for help and you'll find it's grace and more grace. The moment he hears, he'll answer. 20Just as the Master kept you alive during the hard times, he'll keep your teacher alive and present among
you. Your teacher will be right there, local and on the job, 21urging you on whenever you wander left or right: "This is the right road. Walk down this road." 22You'll scrap your expensive and fashionable god-images. You'll throw them in the trash as so much garbage, saying, "Good riddance!"
23God will provide rain for the seeds you sow. The grain that grows will be abundant. Your cattle will range far and wide. 24Oblivious to war and earthquake, the oxen and donkeys you use for hauling and plowing will be fed well 25near running brooks that flow freely from mountains and hills. 26Better yet, on the Day GOD heals his people of the wounds and bruises from the time of punishment, moonlight will flare into sunlight, and sunlight, like a whole week of
sunshine at once, will flood the land. 27Look, GOD's on his way...

Observation

I have found Isaiah to be a very difficult book to read. The passages so far seem to depict a vengeful God, who seems to be left with no choice but to punish a disobedient Israel. Isaiah seems to just go on and on about all the bad things that must happen to bad people. But
this passage reveals the other side of the almighty God, the side of His grace. God has a well-rounded personality and we must learn to know him in his anger and his wrath as well as in his loving kindness.

Application

I've been struggling to wake up in the mornings and it worries me. I pride myself in waking up early, attacking each day with vigour and passion but this last week I have felt rather lifeless. I have found myself remaining in the warm comforts of my bed, not wanting to leave.
I'm embracing sleep as if there's nothing better going on in the world, nothing great in the day worth getting up for. That's worrying. I know that something's not right but I'm struggling to pinpoint what it is. I have so many people to serve and uphold, so many responsibilities to fulfill with school, with work, with ministry and with family, and so many relationships to foster and nurture, and yet my bed seems hold me much tighter than any of these. Perhaps all my busyness has cut me off from God.

Prayer

Father I am lost. There are so many things you have placed before me, so much you have entrusted me with but that's not enough to give me the will to live. I long to live for you. I long to know you more, through a direct connection, no intermediaries. I throw away the things that
merely remind me of you. I forsake the tasks that have become too important. I scrap it all for one day and say "Good Riddance" and I cry out for the grace of your presence.

Give me a day today Lord when I can sense your presence, interact with your Spirit and learn to love your Son again. Give me a day to reconnect with the Almighty, The Holy of Israel, God of the Angel Armies, that I may rediscover my passion for living. In the precious name of Christ I pray these things, Amen.