Isaiah 20-22; 1 Corinthians 2

You run to the armory for your weapons.
⁹ You inspect the breaks in the walls of Jerusalem.
    You store up water in the lower pool.
¹⁰ You survey the houses and tear some down
    for stone to strengthen the walls.
¹¹ Between the city walls, you build a reservoir
    for water from the old pool.
But you never ask for help from the One who did all this.
    You never considered the One who planned this long ago. Isaiah 22:8b-11, NLT

I know there have been times I’ve exhausted myself emotionally and physically–my mind a steady stream of thoughts that churn a situation, looking for solution at every angle. Or my efforts the “one foot in front of the other” work, the next step, the next right thing–marching on and pushing through. In all of it, I realize how very small I am. To carry the weight of a burden alone can crush a spirit.

God wants me to take my burdens to him and lay them at his feet. I offer up petitions and prayer, and the Spirit groans on my behalf.

For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. ¹¹ No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. ¹² And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

¹³ When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. ¹⁴ But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. ¹⁵ Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. ¹⁶ For,

“Who can know the Lord’s thoughts?
    Who knows enough to teach him?”

But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:10b-16, NLT

A Matthew Henry Commentary tells me: “Though the infirmities of Christians are many and great, so that they would be overpowered if left to themselves, yet the Holy Spirit supports them. The Spirit, as an enlightening Spirit, teaches us what to pray for; as a sanctifying Spirit, works and stirs up praying graces; as a comforting Spirit, silences our fears, and helps us over all discouragements. The Holy Spirit is the spring of all desires toward God, which are often more than words can utter. The Spirit who searches the hearts, can perceive the mind and will of the spirit, the renewed mind, and advocates his cause. The Spirit makes intercession to God, and the enemy prevails not.”

Father God, thank you that your spirit lives in me. Thank you that you make yourself accessible to me, leaning low to listen even when I don’t have words, or know what words to speak. I do not have to carry a burden alone–my Lord, my Shepherd, you are with me.

Courtney (66books365)

 

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