Sometimes it is really easy to take things for granted. I get into a groove, kind of like auto-pilot, and just expect things to fall into place. Then all of the sudden, there’s a malfunction and I am knocked back into reality. I pause and get myself back on track, focused and attentive. It’s not like I forget things; it is more of an issue of shifting my attention to things other than my goal. Reading Isaiah 45 today was kind of like a “friendly reminder” to me!
“I am Yahweh, and there is no other; there is no God but Me.” (v.5)
“So that all may know from the rising of the sun to the setting that there is no one but Me. I am Yahweh, and there is no other.”(v.6)
“I form light and create darkness, I make success and create disaster, I, Yahweh, do all these things.” (v.7)
Throughout this entire passage, God reminds me that He is God and that there is no other. He establishes His sovereignty and His power. His acts of greatness, mercy, and justice are discussed. He is the Creator, the Source, the Redeemer, and my Holy God. He has the whole world in His hands. The sun rises and sets because He has ordered it. God is the Master Planner of the earth. And I am so small in comparison. Yet He loves me so much — so much that He says, “I, Yahweh, the God of Israel call you by your name” (v. 3). My Great God calls me by name. How amazing that His works are so glorious and yet He is so personal that He calls me by my name.
I am humbled. Living life on auto-pilot is not only exhausting, it is actually boring. I want my eyes to be on Him, the Author and Finisher of my faith. I want to live in full commune with Him, with an extreme awareness of His glory. I want to watch the sun rise with new eyes… eyes that see His marvelous works and cause me to fall to my knees in worship and in awe. I don’t want to take things for granted anymore.
God, I pray for a renewed sense of appreciation, an awareness of Your amazingly good deeds. Lord, I desire to walk in step with You, allowing You to guide me and lead me down the path that You have chosen for me. I want to participate on this adventure with You. I pray that You would help me to focus on who You are, remembering and worshiping You because You deserve it.
Psalm 105:1-11
1 Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
2 Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
3 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
4 Look to the LORD and his strength;
seek his face always.
5 Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
6 you his servants, the descendants of Abraham,
his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
7 He is the LORD our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.
8 He remembers his covenant forever,
the promise he made, for a thousand generations,
9 the covenant he made with Abraham,
the oath he swore to Isaac.
10 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
11 “To you I will give the land of Canaan
as the portion you will inherit.”
Suzie (suzielawyer)
From the archives. Originally published June 13, 2011
Sixty-six books in a year 