A Prayer for When You’re within the Wilderness
By Jessica Van Roekel
“Bear in mind not the previous issues, nor contemplate the issues of previous. Behold, I’m doing a brand new factor; now it springs forth, do you not understand it? I’ll make a approach within the wilderness and rivers within the desert.” – Isaiah 43:18-19, ESV
It’s summer time within the Midwest, and the humidity rises sooner than the solar. Farmland and grasslands absorb the water within the air whereas I sweat by way of it. The clouds helped make my morning stroll tolerable. The Israelites wandered concerning the wilderness for forty years after their rescue from Egypt. By way of the desert, they adopted the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fireside by night time. God offered shade within the scorching warmth and heat for the chilly nights.
God selected Israel for a particular place in God’s plan for salvation. Though they have been spiritually blind, God nonetheless had a future for them. Israel witnessed God’s plan of redemption and helped reveal God’s plan to the remainder of the world by way of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. God, the Redeemer, Most Holy One, Creator, and King made a approach within the sea, a path by way of mighty waters, and delivered his individuals from captivity.
The guide of Isaiah holds so many great truths about God and his dedication to the Israelites. It additionally particulars the wrestle Israel had in remaining devoted to God and loving him with their entire hearts. On this chapter in Isaiah’s writings, the Israelites have been caught in determined circumstances. They have been in exile, removed from their house and their religious roots, but God, by way of the prophet Isaiah, promised them a return to their house and to his coronary heart. Between captivity and the return to Israel lay miles of wilderness. Held inside the pages of their historical past is the story of God carrying his individuals by way of one other wilderness—one the place God cared for them with manna and candy water. Verses sixteen and seventeen name the Israelites to recollect God’s work. In the event that they don’t bear in mind, how can they remind themselves of God’s lovingkindness?
Isaiah warns the Israelites that in the event that they remained caught in discouragement, they’d miss their launch from exile. If we keep trapped in failure, defeat, sin, and discouragement over our previous, we can’t transfer ahead both. Verses eighteen and nineteen inform us to neglect the previous defeat and transfer on to what God has for us. God makes a highway. He satisfies our wants and protects us. We could fear concerning the particulars of God’s guarantees, however he says, “Maintain my hand, stroll with me, and belief me.”
Our sins and previous failures could cause us to hold our heads in disgrace even after we’ve repented and obtained forgiveness. This disgrace can lead us right into a wilderness of despair. However God says to recollect not the previous issues and to recall his forgiveness. Isaiah 41:18 guarantees: “I’ll open rivers on the naked heights, and fountains within the midst of the valleys. I’ll make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.” Even when God leads us to the desert or we get caught there due to the alternatives we made, we will nonetheless discover consolation and hope after we search for the brand new factor God is doing.
Let’s pray:
Holy God,
We discover ourselves within the wilderness. We wander from hope to hopelessness and again once more. We wrestle with doubt about your goodness as a result of a lot dangerous has occurred. Assist us bear in mind you. Assist us bear in mind your kindness when the world was lower than form. Assist us bear in mind your faithfulness even after we lacked faithfulness. Assist us bear in mind not the disgrace we bear from errors made and hurts precipitated, however remind us of your forgiveness.
Assist us not get so caught up in our determined circumstances that we miss the way in which you make. Your approach leads us to peace and to consolation. You make paths within the wilderness, and we don’t wish to miss it. Open our eyes to see you progress. Fill our sight with visions of the longer term you’ve for us—considered one of delight and development—in the midst of our wilderness. Thanks for doing one thing new in our lives. Thanks for setting us free from the bonds of disgrace and regret. Fill our hearts with rejoicing whereas we stroll this wilderness highway.
In Jesus’ title, Amen
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Associated Useful resource: Bear in mind God’s Enduring Love for You on this Guided Meditation on Psalm 100!
This guided Christian meditation from Psalm 100 will enable you to expertise and reward God for his endless love for you. Turn out to be conscious of God’s presence with you, and reward God for his loyal and enduring love from the start of time and into the longer term. Hear to each episode of the So A lot Extra Podcast on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so that you by no means miss an episode!
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