Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
July 1, 2023
Isaiah 43:14-21
14 The LORD your redeemer, the holy one of Israel, says, For your sake, I have sent an army to Babylon and brought down all the bars, turning the Chaldeans’ singing into a lament. 15 I am the LORD, your holy one, Israel’s creator, your king! 16 The LORD says—who makes a way in the sea and a path in the mighty waters, 17 who brings out chariot and horse, army and battalion; they will lie down together and will not rise; they will be extinguished, extinguished like a wick. 18 Don’t remember the prior things; don’t ponder ancient history. 19 Look! I’m doing a new thing; now it sprouts up; don’t you recognize it? I’m making a way in the desert, paths in the wilderness. 20 The beasts of the field, the jackals and ostriches, will honor me because I have put water in the desert and streams in the wilderness to give water to my people, my chosen ones, 21 this people whom I formed for myself, who will recount my praise.
Good Morning, What a great day to praise the Lord!
We often get lost in what is in the past. When we are challenged, we revel in what used to be the glories of old. I see this with sports groups that have had great teams in the past and focus on what was instead of what can be. You can not be reborn until you allow the ways of old to pass. When we are baptized in the spirit, our old self dies as our new self emerges.
Perception of a new thing and trusting God is more important than memory of the old.
Now that is very important – it is not going to be a return to some glorious age. The future is not a restoration of how it used to be.
You have to give up the old visions and the old dreams. You must give up the idea, “That is how we always did it.” This is a tough concept for us to grasp. We resist change and cling to the past's ways, but reaching the future means taking steps forward and discarding the things holding us back. You must move, trust, risk, hope, and not get distracted to see what God has in store. This is the definition of faith.
True faith is not in an institution or a set of laws – but in a relationship with a living God. That is all God has ever wanted since the beginning of time. This relationship is the glue that binds us together with God, our Creator.
Love God, one another, and God’s creation, and be loved back.
Offer to God what God has offered to us: everything.
Be in the garden together.
Journey as the one body of Christ working together as we allow the Holy Spirit to lead and keep us open, expectant, and ready.
This is the heart of the message that we read in Genesis: God creates! God loves! God redeems! God is! Let go of everything and get ready to move.
So while God’s gracious and saving acts are part of their history – the people are not to cling to the memories or think of them as glory days to which they should or will return.
Isaiah tells the people who are listening: Know your past but don’t get all nostalgic. Whatever you do, do not think that yesterday was greater or better than what I am about to do with you and for you.
Loving God, We thank you for Your blessings. We get lost in what was. Help us to focus on that which we can’t even imagine by trusting You. We Thank You! In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: God will make a way in every dark hour.
Let Go and Let God! Pastor Liz
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