I planned to write a different post but as the old Yiddish proverb says, Man plans, God laughs. He is chuckling today! Yesterday morning, I “heard” the Holy Spirit’s nudge, Later Milly, stay with Me now.
I picked up the devotional God Calling edited by A.J. Russell and found this scripture included in the devotion for June 7th; True Beauty:
“Incline your ear, and come to Me.
Hear, and your soul shall live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you –
The sure mercies of David.” [Isaiah 55:3]
I’ve read God Calling twice. This is my third time reading it daily. Unlike a modern devotional there is not a verse with every reading. I found it odd I didn’t notice this verse in the prior readings. This time the verse reached out and grabbed my attention. I knew I needed to write about this.
My copy of God Calling is a U.S. reprint ©MCMLIIII (1954) by Barbour Books. The book was written by two anonymous women in England and published in 1935. They are only known as “Two Listeners.” These women listened to God through sickness and poverty.
In the New King James Version Isaiah Chapter 55 titled: An Invitation to Abundant Life. I encourage you to read the entire chapter. I see a blueprint here. How do we find abundant life? How do we get beyond all the messes we have made? What about the blame and hatred heaped on our shoulders like a heavy yoke tying us to earthly things?
I can’t resolve the blame placed on my shoulders by my children. I apologize for not being perfect. Or I explain my reasons and excuses for what I have done; even if I can’t remember why. None of that works. I am forgiven only until the next time others remember the mistake or hurt. Then my shame breaks my heart again.
I am watching this play out in our Country too. This weekend I watched a video of a young woman kneeling before a Black Lives Matter representative. He startled her and demanded she kneel before him because of the color of her skin. It was interesting that I never saw the color of his skin. Only the back of his black hood and I heard his voice. The image stayed with me this weekend. It was an image of judgment and unforgiveness rolling across our country.
In my faith, I learned not to bow before idols, gods, or man. I am called to only kneel before God. I learned this from Daniel, Mordecai, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Jesus Christ, and many others throughout our Faiths. Our Country was founded on principles allowing us to choose who we bend our knee to and worship. I do not worship money, skin color, or political power. My God is worth more than all of that. I kneel for God Almighty. He is my Lord. Then I read further and I found Isaiah 55:6-7:
6 Seek the Lord while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
How do we live an abundant life? There is the formula. Seek the Lord, call upon Him, forsake our ways and thoughts, and return to the Lord. The only true forgiveness comes from the Lord. “For He will abundantly pardon” us (emphasis added).
Writing this, I have a new image. If we return, seek, and call upon the Lord, forsake our old ways and return to Him; His Forgiveness, Love, and Acceptance will roll across our land. It is the only way to heal our Land.
“Incline your ear, and come to Me.
Hear, and your soul shall live;
My Lord, I am listening and come to you today. Help us live abundantly in the Holy Spirit’s embrace. Forgive us, heal our souls, and give us life. Guide us back to You, Holy Father. You are the only one who can heal our nations from judgment and shame. Set our Souls free to live abundantly in you! Help us move forward with confidence in God, our Father. In Jesus’ name amen. And in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit amen.
God Bless you,
Milly
P.S. The scripture passages are from the New King James Version.
