Every believer should be on a
journey through their Bible, cover-to-cover.
Some people
like plans and dates and calendars. I prefer to jump around a bit. Historical
books one week, Gospels the next, but never repeating a book until I've read
them all.
This means
there comes a point in my "reading plan" (there's no plan!) where I'm left mucking my way through
the prophets.
Mucking
probably isn't a very nice term to use when talking about the holy
prophets of God, but I'm being real with you. I dislike reading the prophets.
They don't
seem relevant to me. I'm not a doom and gloom kind of person. Apart from the
books of Daniel and Jonah, I couldn't follow the story line if you paid me. I
just get bogged down and out of sorts. I find myself praying that God will just
get me through to the Gospels.
However,
lately I find myself in a parched place. Dry and thirsty. I recently
finished the book of Acts and found myself unmoved and unchanged. Not good.
I brought my
heart of weariness to the Lord, and wouldn't you know He led me to Isaiah. Why
when I was tired and frustrated would the Lord want me in the most confusing
and time consuming part of scripture?
I remembered
a Bible study book I had on the shelf. I bought it several months ago intending
to get over my dread of the prophets. It was a book about feeling secure in the
arms of God. It was a book
about Isaiah.
The first
devotional section covered Isaiah 1-12. Twelve
chapters! I buckled down and
read them. All of them. I read them slowly. Intentionally.
Longingly. I gave them my time
and attention, and the Lord did not disappoint.
I have so
much I want to share with you. Truth about standing firm in our faith, calling
evil out for what it is, and remembering to let the Lord cleanse us and use us
for his glory. I want to remind you what a blessing the Holy Spirit is in our
lives and how we should daily be like Jesus judging with righteousness and
equity.
But today
I'm just going to share with you a small piece of Isaiah 12. If you've ever found yourself
lost and alone in the prophets, then flip to Isaiah 12 and be encouraged.
It's a short
chapter filled with strength and hope. They
are verses that will one day be sung in the kingdom of God, when Jesus sits on his throne ruling the world with equity and truth, but really, why should we wait? That same Jesus rules and reigns in our lives! I
pray this verse is the song of my heart today and for eternity!
{Free Printable}
This is a
first for me, but after reading and LOVING this verse, I had to do something
with it!
You can
download free printable versions of this verse below (sans watermark). Once you
download the file, you can upload the it to Walmart.com and have the image
professionally printed for less than as a $1. You can even have it shipped to
your house for free. Hang it in your hallway, put it on your desk at work, or
just stick it in your Bible as a reminder of our strength, our song, and our
salvation. Enjoy!
Love this girl!! I've just started a steady of literallr reading the Bible from cover to cover.. Genesis to Revelation. It's amazing the things God can show you that you've never seen before in His word. :)
ReplyDeleteKatherine, I agree that everyone should read the bible cover to cover. I never had until a few years ago. Once you do, it brings so many things together and it is much like reading any other beautiful story. I found it much easier to understand and remember this way. God really spoke to me. I'm so glad I dedicated the time. I'm on my third time around now and I discover new things each time through. I just love it. Kim, Pouring Down Like Rain Linking with Proverbs and Pacifiers
ReplyDeleteWhat devotional were you using? Sounds like a purchase worth making! Have you ever read a chronological bible? That really helps because it gives you the historical context if the prophets, side by side (mostly from 1 and 2 Kings and Chronicles). Very helpful!
ReplyDeleteGina, it's part of the Warren Wiersbe BE series. I think it's "Be Secure". This is the second one like it I've done and I really enjoy them!
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