Isaiah 12

Isaiah 12 is a praise chapter.  Only six short verses but what an action packed example of how we need to relate to our God.  Here is an example of some of the ways we need to be expressing our relationship with the world.  Are you doing these things:

 

1. “say…I thank you God”.  Are you thanking God for the multitude of blessings, big and small, He bestows on your life every day?  God is in control of all, and He owns all, so anything we receive is truly from Him.  There is so much to be thankful for.  Too often we take it all for granted.  We begin to take on that entitlement mentality.  God doesn’t owe us – God loves us and gives freely.  We need to be grateful and thank Him.
2. “God is my salvation”.  Do you remember that every day?  There is no future without God.  He alone has provided for our eternity through the blood of His Son – Jesus Christ.  We need to keep that first and foremost in our mind, and make sure those in our circle of influence know the truth.
3. “Call out His name”.  Are you afraid to let people know that you believe in God?  We need to be Christians 24/7/365.  Not necessarily in your face and obnoxious – that is not the call.  But certainly not cowering and afraid to let people know either.  We are God’s sons and daughters.  We have been bought with a price – a huge price – and we need to live like His.
4. “Ask Him anything”.  Oh the power of prayer.  Do you take time every day to enjoy one of the most important parts of the relationship God has given to us – to be able to approach His throne  with our requests?  God wants us to come to Him with our prayers.  He desires us to seek His wisdom, guidance and intercession.  God is in the miracle business and loves to answer prayer.  So often the biggest problem with prayer is that we never ask.  We try to do it on our own and only when we fail and reach a point of desperation do we remember to go to God with the situation.  We need to start there.  Pray much, pray always.
5. “Shout to the nations”.  Do you feel called to be a missionary?  Did you know that God has called each of us to “go therefore and make disciples of ALL nations”?  That doesn’t mean you have to jump on the next plane and head across the ocean to minister.  But for some, that may be exactly what it means.  But it does mean we are in the mission business and need to join God in what He is up to through prayer, giving and any other way He calls us.
6. “Tell them what He has done…spread the news”.  We do a lousy job of this in most cases.  God is at work in each of our lives every day – many times each day – and we never tell anyone.  For some of us we just miss it completely.  For others, we can’t remember from one day to the next (which is why journaling is absolutely critical for this).  Still others are afraid to be called a religious freak if they let anyone know that God is active in their life.  But He is, and we need to proclaim that.
7. “Sing praise songs to God”.  How is your singing?  Do you sing in the shower?  Do you sing in the car?  Are you worshipping our God every day?  He desires our worship and it is important for our relationship – it helps get us in the right frame of mind and puts us in the right position of awe and respect.  It doesn’t matter how you sound – make a joyful noise.  But come to Him in worship and song.
8. “Raise the roof…sing your hearts out”.  God doesn’t call us to be quiet Christians.  We need to be alive and loud for the Lord.  We should not be sitting quietly in the pew hoping no one notices we are there.  We should be lined up to serve, ready to get into the game of making a difference for Him.  We serve the God of the universe.  He is not some weak and limited God.  We need to live that way. Boldly and confident of His power in our lives.