Morning by Morning, October 12 - Abundant Waters in the Wilderness and Flowing Streams in the Desert
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me by Your Spirit and form in me Your Nature, as I seek to begin my day embraced by My Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. ...
"The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendor of our God!" (Isaiah 35:1-2)
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendor of our God!" (Isaiah 35:1-2)
We tend to think it's in the beautiful places that we experience Your beauty and in the abundant times that we experience Your abundance. Sometimes that's true. But so many times, it's just the opposite.
It's when we experience You in the "desert" places and parched land that we are glad. It's when we experience You in the "wilderness" wanderings and wonderings that we rejoice.
In contrast with the broken and fallen world around us, You rise up within us. In contrast with those among us who have no hope, given in to despair, overwhelmed by fear, You lift up our heads and stir up our hearts to burst into bloom and even shout for joy!
It's not normal; it's abnormal. It's not cultural; it's countercultural. It's not natural; it's supernatural.
It's one of the ways You display Your glory, the splendor of our God, through the peace and hope and even joy You give Your people in the midst of our problems and all the paranoia and panic of the world around us.
We're not indifferent to the sufferings around us, not blind to the challenges we face, nor immune to the consequences of the choices being made that affect all of our lives. But we do not grieve as those who have no hope; and our peace and joy is not dependent upon the governments or people or even circumstances of this world. We look to You. We look up to the hills from where our strength comes from. We trust in the One who is with us through it all and even uses it all to make us more like Him.
As we do, this is what You're able to do through us, as You display the splendor of Your glory in us:
"Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
steady the knees that give way;
say to those with fearful hearts,
'Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
He will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
He will come to save you!'" (Isaiah 35:3-4)
'Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
He will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
He will come to save you!'" (Isaiah 35:3-4)
Trusting in You, strong in the strength You provide and encouraged in the hope You supply, the dry and weary land around us and the dry and weary hearts among us begin to see the power of the presence of our God:
"Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert!" (Isaiah 35:5-7)
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert!" (Isaiah 35:5-7)
You lead us out of the desert and out of the wilderness of a life depending on ourselves and our world and into the flourishing abundance of Your grace on "the highway of holiness" (Isaiah 35:8). Even those who went astray will return and be redeemed (Isaiah 35:9). For all who turn to You, who return to You, who learn to trust and rest in You no matter what we're going through, there is confidence, peace, assurance, and joy:
"They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away!" (Isaiah 35:10)
Lord, let it be so -- here in my heart, here in my world, here right now and throughout the moments of my day. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend, may you be filled up and overflowing in the Presence and power of the Lord through whatever desert place or wilderness journey you're facing and our world around us is facing, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Save the Date! Come join us if you are in the Lexington, Kentucky area the weekend of October 23-24th where I'll be preaching our Setting Hearts Free conference at Ignite Church in Nicholasville just west of Lexington. All are welcome!
More details: tommyhays@messiah-ministries.org
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New Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:
Tommy & Rocio Hays
Messiah Ministries
17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407
San Antonio, Texas 78257
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