Paying Attention to God
I had a good of night of rest which is helping me regain strength and feel more normal. This has been a relaxing day. I made my second trip to our basement since I returned home in December just to look around. I did far better getting back up the stairs that last time I made the effort.
Today Riley our oldest grandson celebrates his eight birthday. Congratulations to Riley. He is a sharp little guy and is doing well with his school work and enjoying life.
This has been a great fall day. I believe fall is one of my favorite seasons. I have been collecting a series of pictures of fall colors from those who have posted pictures on Facebook. It is great to live in Colorado!
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31
That last part of these familiar verses could qualify as another one of my “rehab verses.” I think of that as I get weary just from walking with a walker, let alone “running.” But what Isaiah is pointing to is a quality of strength and endurance. The Children of Israel have been bowing before false gods. They have made the eternal God into a God of their own image. Through the prophet God is calling them back to what they have known and understood.
In Isaiah 40 these two questions, “Have you not known? Have you not heard?” are found twice. The Message paraphrase puts these questions like this, “Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening?” These words communicate more of a rebuke from the lips of the prophet. It is interesting that following both occurrences where these questions is found a reference to God’s creative power. The first is in verses 20-23 – “Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning?…It is he who sits above the circle of the earth…who stretches out the heavens like a curtain…” In our verses above it simply states the Everlasting God is the Creator of the ends of the Earth (that’s everything!)
It is this creator God who sustains, gives power, strengthens and enables those who “wait on Him” the ability to rise above the issues of this life, of this world. These verses describe supernatural empowering; that which is beyond human ability.
Let’s be those who understand and pay attention to the God who is there. The God who is able to do for us what we need, when we need it. Our responsibility is to pray, trust and be patient.