Listen

This is what came to me this morning as I read from Isaiah.

 

Listen to this, my heart within.  Pay attention to these words that you are reading.

 

“Listen!  It’s the voice of someone shouting,

‘Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord!

Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!

Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills.

Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places.

Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.

The Lord has spoken’!”  ~Isaiah 40: 3-5

Listen to those words, oh my heart!  Do you hear it?  Clear a way through the wild places.  Cut a straight pathway to God so He can come dwell in you!  You’ve built up this wasteland with your wandering and discontent.  Now turn, repent of your foolishness!  Clear a path for the coming King of glory!  He will come to you!  He will be Emmanuel!

 

“O Zion, messenger of good news, shout from the mountaintops!

Shout it louder, O Jerusalem.

Shout, and do not be afraid.

Tell the towns of Judah,

‘Your God is coming!’

Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power.

He will rule with a powerful arm.

See, He brings His reward with Him as He comes.

He will feed His flock like a shepherd.

He will carry the lambs in His arms, holding them close to His heart.

He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.”  ~Isaiah 40: 9-11

Oh wandering heart, there is no need to strive and struggle.  He will pull you from the tangle of your wilderness and hold you in His strong, gentle arms next to His heart.  Do not be afraid!  He will feed your need for love and acceptance.  His coming will be your reward!  Trust.  Rest in Him.  Rest.  He is coming.

 

“O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles?

O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?

Have you never heard?  Have you never understood?

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth.

He never grows weak or weary.

No one can measure the depths of His understanding.

He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.

Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.

They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not faint.”  ~Isaiah 40: 27-31