Meager Bread and Water

-

 Read Isaiah 30:20-22

What truth is contained in these verses!! When we seek the Lord during hard times, things will become clearer and powerful things happen. Let's look at the three basic lessons that have become clear to me as I've studied this passage.

First, God provides what we need – “meager bread and water.” Although we may be learning to do without some things, we still have a God who will meet our needs and help us become aware of our greediness for more than that. He has promised that when we first seek Him, He will provide for the daily stuff we tend to worry about (Matthew 6:33).

Second, our Teacher will not be hidden and He will not be silent. Adversity helps us to grow and to learn about what God wants from us. As we stumble through the chaos, we will begin to see God in the midst of it, and God’s voice will become clearer.  He will lead us in His ways.

Finally, when we are struggling, our lives get sifted. As the shaking continues, we begin to recognize that which we need to let go of, and that which is so precious we must hold onto. Our eyes are opened to seeing the idols we worship, and we are compelled to get them out of our lives. Priorities come into focus, and we are very aware of what really matters in life.

Is it any wonder that God allows adversity?

What has God been teaching you through your latest struggles?

How have your priorities shifted? What still needs to change?

Comments

  1. UnknownNovember 11, 2020 at 2:20 PM

    What a perfect passage to come sit with as I sort and sift through priorities regarding my career! I'm still waiting to hear His definitive, "This is the way..." But meanwhile, the sheer necessity of walking daily with my eyes on Him is rich with blessing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Karen BootsNovember 12, 2020 at 7:26 AM

      I have prayed for you that His voice will be clearly heard in His perfect timing. Thank you for your comment.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Committed to Prayer

-
Image
Read Daniel 10 to get the full story, but today we will focus on just the first few verses. As you read, take note of how Daniel prepared himself to hear from God, and also notice the important messages given to him when the information was revealed. The book of Daniel is packed full of wonderful accounts of God’s power manifest in Daniel’s life – the fiery furnace, the lion’s den, the handwriting on the wall. There’s plenty there to study and learn. This time I want to focus on a lesser known account in chapter 10, which gives us a glimpse into the spiritual realm. The first thing I noticed is how committed Daniel is to his prayer. In verses 2 and 3 we read about his sacrificial approach and focus on seeking God.   He describes himself as “mourning.” The definition of the original word here indicates lamenting, or walking with head downcast.  When we find ourselves in this condition, we need to follow Daniel’s example and go directly to seeking God. And his isn’t a quick pr
Read more

New Every Morning

-
Image
  Read Lamentations 3:19-26 More toys than floor in the living room. Crayon art on the newly painted wall. Diapers in the bin that will curl your nose hair. Tears (some of them yours). Whining. A plate of spaghetti tossed to the floor to punctuate the sentence, "I want hot dogs!" And then...nap time. Blessed, peaceful, sanity-saving naptime. What is it about a sleeping child that melts our frustrations and anger into ooey-gooey adoration? Pure love. The child who was on the brink of a thousand time outs is suddenly the cutest thing in the world and brings a different kind of tear to our eyes, along with a softness in our hearts. When they wake up, the day is fresh and new, and the past fades away so we can begin again. God is a parent too, and He has been there. Daily He watches us quarrel, disobey, throw tantrums, and leave messes in our wake. However, as the author of Lamentations graciously reminds us, "His mercies are new every morning."  Like the peaceful sight
Read more