Finding the Strength to Serve

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. – Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)

Have you ever just wanted to quit?

Elijah ran away into hiding to quit.  Jonah booked passage on a ship headed out of Joppa and headed to Tarshish.  Jeremiah wept bitterly before the Lord, swearing not to speak His name again.  If a prophet could cal it quits, certainly one of us can.

Or, so we think.

In Isaiah chapter 40, we are given a depiction of both God and His people.  The Word reveals the inner workings of the intimate relationship between Jehovah and Jacob, the Almighty and Israel.  A clear view of how God is miraculous and wondrous in His ways arises from the words of comfort offered to the Lord’s prophet to be spoken to the eager ears of the people of Zion.

We want to rationalize our decisions, especially those decisions that might cause us some conflicts with our walk.  It is even harder when we find our decisions to become contrary to all that we have preached, taught and counseled others not to do.  We become hypocrites at that point.  We are saying one thing for others to do in their daily walk with the Lord and not doing any of what we have said ourselves.  That is seriously hypocritical and outright dangerous.

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.– Isaiah 40:29

The Lord’s words sooth the discouraged and encourage those running on empty.  He can renew you by refueling you with power and strength.  You can be ready to throw in the towel, but that second wind emerges from somewhere beyond your gut.  You can wish that it was all over and that God would just take you out of your misery, but He provides enough for you to keep going on and getting stronger as you serve more earnestly.  He is able to fuel you as well as fill you.

Let the Lord put your heart and mind at ease.  Don’t stress yourself over your next major move or serious decision.  Listen to His words through His prophet.  become encouraged by what He says he will do for the weak and the empty as well as “them that have no might.” He wants you powered up by what He can give to you.  He wants you strengthened to serve.

Let the Lord use you in a mighty way.

 

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Beyond Today

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.  Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

You’re getting nowhere with your plans.  Yes, God gave you the vision.  You have prayed and sought counsel on the matter.  You have even shared the vision with others. And, alas, nothing has transpired.  You have put forth a lot of effort and energy.  You have exhausted all of your resources and you still appear to be getting nowhere.

The problem may not exist with the action plan and the timeline.  It may not be related to the multimedia presentations of PowerPoint after PowerPoint and message after message. It may simply boil down to fundamental flaw.  There may be an issue of faith.

The Word shares that it is impossible to please God without faith.  Is God pleased? Are you remaining faithful? Is it still on your prayer list? Have you checked back in with God… and heard from Him?

We are to walk by faith.  That is how we are to approach all matters- in, by and with faith.  Yet, discouragement feeds into doubt, and then doubt leads us to becoming dispondent and we eventually start forgetting to hold on with faith.  Don’t let that become your story’s ending.  Remain faithful and stay patient.  There is an unspeakable joy awaiting those who wait upon the Lord.

But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.- Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)

• But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength: Waiting and trusting the Lord will find “new strength.” The lord can strengthen you for what it is to come.  Let your waiting lead to your preparation as the Lord strengthens you.
• They will soar high on wings like eagles: Let God take you to new heights and expand your horizons.  Perhaps, if you think about it deeply, God wants you to do more than what you initially set out to do.  This may be another phase to what God wants you to do His name and among His people.  Go where He takes you and extend the limits of your imagination above the haters and critics.
• They will run and not grow weary: Focus on staying the course and picking up the pace, not dropping out of the race.  God’s promise is that you “will run and not grow weary.” Weariness leads to becoming worn out and wiped out.  Keep going in faith.
• They will walk and not faint: Walk in faith.  Do not get faint, especially faint-hearted.  Step out in faith, taking every step on the promises of God.  When you can’t run, walk.  Just keep progressing towards what God has for you.  Every step, even the smallest and the slightest step, gets you closer to the goal.

Whether it is a building campaign or launching a new ministry or business that can’t seem to get off the ground or pick up momentum, wait on the Lord in faith.  Trust Him today.  Try to recall times when he provided and protected.  Most of all, recall and reclaim His promises.

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.- Psalm 27:14 (KJV)

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