Planning Today, for Tomorrow’s Miracle
This morning we were back to sunny skies and warm weather. That helped me feel that much better. I had a chance to get to our neighborhood pool and get in some exercise, before a Rotary picnic in Loveland. This past Saturday, we enjoyed another visit from Rep. Spencer Swalm. It was good to connect once again with Spencer and to give him a copy of my book. He wrote a nice endorsement for me.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Enlarge the site of your tent, and let your tent curtains be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your ropes, and drive your pegs deep. For you will spread out to the right and to the left, and your descendants will dispossess nations and inhabit the desolate cities.” Isaiah 54:2,3 HCSB
Isaiah prophesied about a future glory, before the current crisis came to it fulfillment. We see encouraging words spoken, decades before they would make any sense. In the totality of Isaiah’s words we see God’s divine plan from “start to finish.”
So often we are focused on today and the here and now, instead of the future, it is difficult to see the “grand scheme” in God’s mind. While Jerusalem would be the forsaken city, there would come day when the captives were the rulers; when those who had been the “foot” would be the “head.”
As we consider the words of the prophet we see that they are directed not in response to what the Lord had accomplished but in preparation for what the Lord would one day accomplish. “Enlarge the site of your tent, stretch out..lengthen your ropes, drive your pegs deep.” In many ways this is like the prophet Elisha telling the widow woman with the small jar of oil, to collect vessels from all her neighbors in preparation for a miracle.
We see this encouragement to “act now for what will come later” in the words, “Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame; don’t be humiliated, for you will not be disgraced.“ (Isaiah 54:4 HCSB) We also see the familiar words, “No weapon formed against you will succeed, and you will refute any accusation…” (Isaiah 54:17 HCSB)
It is a true act of faith, when we take steps for that which has not yet been manifested, as if it has already happened. At our men’s retreat this spring Pastor Mark Batterson, told how when he was starting his church, they were praying for a drummer. He felt the Lord prompting him to go buy a drum set. He spent his own money, of which he had very little at the time, and sacrificially bought a used drum set. He anticipated the foolish feeling of drums with no drummer sitting in the church.
The next Sunday, a young man walked into the service, who expressed interest in joining the new church. He was a drummer, who was a member of the Marine Corp drum and bugle team. The Lord not only honored the faith and obedience of a young pastor, but sent the best. Pastor Mark commented, “We decided, if you are good enough to play for the President of the United States, we will allow you to play in our church!”
Prayer for Today… “Lord one of the greatest challenges is to act in faith and obedience as the miracle is on its way. But that is, at times, what you ask. Allow me to be sensitive to your voice, so what I do is not out of my thoughts, but is truly directed by You. Thank you that when You are at work, I can anticipated expansion, stability and strength coming my way.”