THIRSTY?
Today’s Reading: Isaiah 55-56
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
David and his men, fleeing from the death threats of King Saul, stayed here in Ein Gedi and certainly enjoyed the fresh water falling from the desert plateau above. The water courses over several waterfalls of differing sizes before it flows into the Dead Sea. Today’s reading starts with an invitation to thirsty people to “come to the waters.” Imagine the physical refreshment found here. Then meditate on the spiritual refreshment which is ours as we respond to God’s call to come to Him, drinking deeply from “the Water of the Word!” In both Psalms and Ephesians, water is a symbol of God’s Word!
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Isaiah 55:7-11
Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it…”
This is the longest emphasis on key verses for this daily blog. We often hear Isaiah 55:8-9 along with a statement such as, “We can’t understand the ‘thoughts’ of God, nor can we keep His ‘ways,’ because His thoughts and ways are up there in Heaven and ours are down here on earth.” This takes these words out of context. Isaiah is not telling us that the separation between God and us cannot be overcome. Verses 10 & 11 tell us how we learn to think the “THOUGHTS” of God, and how we learn to walk in the “WAYS” of God!!! Let us ask ourselves this simple question, “How would we get wet when it is raining?” It’s obvious; go out in the rain and get wet. Take down the umbrella! How does one get covered in snow? Lie down in it. Roll around in it. The result of being soaked in the rain of God’s “THOUGHTS” (our daily readings), and covered in the snow of His “WAYS,” will be life, spiritual growth, a healthy daily diet, and God’s Word accomplishing all He desires in us!!! Go ahead! Get drenched in His Word and His Ways. It’s guaranteed by God’s promise that we will experience “JOY” and “PEACE.” As illustrated in the Sound of Music movie, “The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing” (Isaiah 55:12). Listen! He’s communicating His thoughts and giving grace to walk in His ways. Don’t leave His “THOUGHTS” and “WAYS” up there in the heavens. Make them ours!!!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, my thirst is quenched in the waters of Your Word. I pray that You will give me the grace and the consistency to be in Your Word daily, without fail! Thank You for Your promise to “abundantly pardon” me as I ask forgiveness with repentance, forsaking my sinful ways and thoughts. I receive Your mercy! In the Name of the Jesus, Who said from the Cross, “Father forgive them!” Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
As I consider Isaiah 56, I cannot miss the fact that Jeremiah identified some people in places of leadership by words such as blind, dumb, asleep, lazy, greedy, self seeking, ignorant and gluttonous drunkards. No doubt this was true and no doubt this was a part of the reason that Jeremiah was put in prison by these people. I’ve heard it said that we define a fanatic as someone who is more passionate about their cause than we are about what we believe and practice. Recently at church there was a man sitting behind me who insisted on shouting with a loud voice words such as “Hallelujah!” and “Glory!” and sometimes he sounded as if he just wanted to make a noise. It bothered me, and I know why. He was more fervent than I was. Actually, I was shouting inside. In fact, when I’m alone, and no one but God can hear me, I have often shouted His praises very loudly indeed! As I read back over what I’ve just written, I don’t know where my musings are going here. I do know that I want to serve God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength, and also I want to love my neighbour as myself. Therefore, I may tone it down while standing right behind my neighbour in church. Maybe? It occurs to me that all of us should experience a church service where people shout for God! Check it out! After all, on the birthday of the Church, Peter had to explain the actions of Spirit-filled believers by saying, “These are not drunk as you suppose!” (Acts 2:1-21).
Yours for all that God wants us to be!
David
P.S. In his autobiography, President Bill Clinton said that everyone needs to visit a church service such as the one I described. It occurs to me that he might have avoided impeachment if he had stayed in such a church. The rain of God’s “THOUGHTS” surely will help us overcome some of those thoughts which are sinful and destructive. Amen???
AMEN!
Amen, David–keeping our mind centered in the Spirit, not our fleshful desires. Beautiful waterfall photo! Refreshing to our bodies, minds and souls! We shout our praise to You, oh Lord. Father of heaven and earth; Jesus Christ, our Saviour, above all names; Holy Spirit that lives and breathes in us! Almighty You reign! Yes, whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved, indeed! Blessings fellow saints, for a spectacular day, spreading the seed of God’s love and faithfulness to those we meet. Prayers of healing and strength, to all.
He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs. Psalm 107:35
Jesus I Believe In You, Hillsong
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnFKwqcmePA
I can’t help but think that if men learned to be good leaders and learned how to treat people, women, children, other men, and went to church, I truly believe the world would be much different, more compassion, empathy, more laughter, more commmon sense, and a greater respect for God and mankind!
Again I am asking people to pray for our leaders and in particular Prime Minister Trudeau, it is somewhat upsetting to hear people scoff at him.
I can’t imagine all the preparation that happens when one decides to run as a leader of a country! It’s over whelming! Your life is an open book to the world!
He has a family, a lovely wife and children! I wonder how they feel when they hear those negative comments! I pray that God will guide our Prime Minister to make the best decisions that need to be made for the welfare of all the people in Canada. I pray God will give directions to all the leaders. I pray the Holy Spirit will enter the hearts of those who are seeking! I pray this in the Name of Jesus Christ, Our risen Lord and Saviour! AMEN
Amen, amen! We need to continually lift up our leaders as the Word tells us to! No matter our political persuasion!
Amen Sah!
Thank you “sah” for your comments about praying for our Prime Minister and other leaders. More prayer! Less criticism!
More shouts of praise and thanksgiving for our Lord and Savior the world would be a better place if all society surrendered to our redemmer. Shout words of praise so that people see our happiness and want to join in. Thank you Jesus for each and every wonderful thing you do in my life Amen.
Amen, Dale!
Appreciate this blog for spiritual nourishment and your prayers. Would you please pray for me today for my heart and blood pressure as my heart that it would settle to its normal pace. Thank you so much for your prayers. God bless you.
Lord Jesus I pray You intervene on behalf of Ger, as she calms down, in You Lord..and Your calm blood and thoughts flow through her…Thank You Jesus…I pray this in Your Holy Mighty Name. Amen!!
Get, as I bring you before Our Lord, I ask that He surrounds you with His presence and the peace He promised. Praying you will sense your heart rate and blood pressure returning to a normal pace. Rest in Him and the prayers surrounding you. Catherine
Blessings to all saints in Jesus
“There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God.
A place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of God.
O Jesus, blest redeemer, sent from the heart of God.
Hold us who wait before Thee, near to the Heart of God.” SF
David, I’m continuing to pray for you… When I read your comment re President Clinton, I remembered this clip I saw of him giving a testimony at a Pentecostal church in the south… you may have seen it… Blessings, DON
https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=bill%20clinton%20pentecostal%20church
Wonderful, encouraging comments by all today. thank you Sah especially for your wisdom in exhorting bloggers to PRAY for Justin Trudeau, our newly elected P.M. Personally, I never voted for him, but that does not mean I don’t support him as we realize the LORD has allowed him to “hold the reigns’ of this great country CANADA for a season and it behooves each & everyone of us to support hime in prayer every day as THE LORD is in control and Justin Trudeau will do what the LORD dictates and should he fail in this regard, the LORD will put someone else in charge, but always remember-THE LORD IS IN CHARGE always for ever and ever. Thank you again SAH for reminding us to pray for those in authority that the LORD GOD sets in place to govern this great nation.
Rev. Terrence J. FELVUS Grassie On.
Your commitments and faithfulness in the Lord in presenting this blog to us daily…being up at such an early hour each day…is MUCH appreciated. I pray that Our Lord and Healer Jesus Christ continue to refresh and strengthen you Rev. David Mainse…as well as Norma-Jean and all who participate with you in this ministry daily!!!
Blessings to all bloggers this day…be refreshed in the Mighty Name of the Lord I pray..Amen!!
Thank you so much for your prayers, Catherine and Irene and any others. Putting my trust in the Lord that all is well. God bless you, Ger
I also did not vote for our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau! I find he speaks respectfully, he took the Alpha course years ago, he recognizes the value of money, he commented that fixing up the PM’s residence was not #1 on the list when there are many First Nation Reservations that do not have water or sewage facilities!
I do understand that God is in conrol however He tells us to pray for one another!
Ger I am praying for total restoration of your health. You are an inspiration to me! I enjoy reading your blogs! God bless you!.
I thank God for swimming, for removing smokes/alcohol from me, this was 20 years ago!
I am on a high, another miracle happened, I lost my wallet and before I went 2 blocks God sent someone who picked it up and took it into the store where I had just visisted, and I arrived home and realized the problem and went back;there was the wallet, sitting on the counter. All Praise and Glory to God for this miracle, a young teen Chomisha found it and did the right thing! I talked with her and I prayed with her and I declared God’s mercy and grace over her life, I also declared in the Name of Jesus Christ that all her dreams will come true!
I am still so over whelmed with her ability and integrity to do the right thing! PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!
Thank you Sah for your prayers and your kind words!