Isaiah 49 captures God’s goodness to His people. They have gone through difficult times (sound familiar?) and this chapter captures the many wonderful things God does for us. A key truth that jumped off the page to me was this: “….because of God, who has faithfully kept His Word….” There is a reality that we need to cling to and live by. God is faithful and always keeps His Word. What the Bible says is so. He cannot not keep it. It is His very nature. We can take that to the bank. It will happen. So the reality is that if we learn it and live it, we can predict the outcome…ever consider that. God tells us much of what He will do. We need to align with it and live by His Word. Time to get into that Book and read it and learn it. Are you willing to do that in 2009?
Another key truth that hit me today were found in these words: “Look up, look around, look well”! So often we get trapped in the busyness of the day and we don’t stop to look up. We keep our nose stuck in our problems and our face to the ground as we feel defeated and overwhelmed. The solution is above – to turn our eyes upon Jesus (sound like a familiar song to you?) and turn it over to Him. God is there, He is watching, He knows every detail….so why do we try and deal with it all on our own? I know that is my habit – to exhaust myself trying before I finally remember that the answer is above. Or it may be in the help of a brother or sister around me. God has placed us as members of His Body for times like these too. But I am so busy looking down and being consumed by the issues of the day I forget the tools He gave me to live victoriously. And don’t forget that – it is His goal for your life and mine – Jesus came to give us “life abundant” and that only happens when we learn to look up and let God have control. Are you focused on the up, or are you buried in the down. God wants to set us free from the burdens of life. He has volunteered to let us “cast your burdens” on Him. He is there and willing. We just have to look up!
