Today’s Scripture: will destine you to the sword, and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter, because, when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not listen, but you did what was evil in my eyes and chose what I did not delight in.” Isaiah 65:12 ESV
Are you chasing after your dreams or the dreams of others? Have you considered chasing after what God delights in? Reading this story in Isaiah and looking at the state of affairs of this world several thousand years later we certainly are distracted.
We are too busy and too distracted by our own thoughts, our own imaginations just as the people of Isaiah’s time. We wake up and chase happiness while stopping and looking to the outstretched hands of God would give us the “gladness of heart” mentioned in Isaiah 65:14.
It has been my experience and my observation of the world that we all know the results of choosing what we delight in. Yet we continue to make the wrong choices. When we choose to pursue God and look to know His desires we know a gladness of heart this world misses out on every day.
What will you choose to delight in today?
Today’s Prayer: Almighty Father, I am looking to Your outstretched hands. Forgive me for wasting my years choosing my own thoughts or the thoughts of others who do not care for me. LORD, turn my gaze and my hopes to what You delight in. Unto You I look and in You I know Your gladness of heart. I choose You this day; please help me to continue to make this choice to know Your delights. Amen
Tom Raines
Christian Affirmations 4 Life
Yes, yes, yes. I totally agree. I know too well what happens when I chose what I delight in. Powerful post, as always, Tom. Thank you. You lay it out there for us–so black and white!
Thank you Julie! There is power in His delights. LORD make Your delights our delights. I choose Your delights over all others. Blessings and delight.
Beautiful post and prayer, Tom! Thank you! Sometimes I don’t realize for a bit that I have begun desiring something other than Him. God bless you as you delight in Jesus today!
Thank you Deb! Blessings in His desires!
This is a good Word Tom. Tough (…”I will destine you to the sword, and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter…” YEP, that’s tough!) but really good and very timely.
I know, as you do, that the context of this affirmation is that God’s chosen one’s were in idolatry…they chose evil. In the exact same way, we can choose to do something which, on the surface seems good and pure, surely the opposite of evil. BUT, and it’s a big but, if it’s not what God has called us to…if we are not listening to HIS voice, well, then, it’s idolatry, right? I choose MY way, MY idea, MY desire, MY plan, etc. And in the end, it leaves us out of God’s kingdom and ultimately, unsatisfied and unfulfilled–no gladness of heart there!
I read this quote by Lawrence J. King from http://beyondtherim.meisheid.com/?p=1359 regarding Pieper’s book,”Faith, Hope, and Love” and it resonated with my struggle. I thank you for letting me share it here:
“I used to think of “slothful” as synonymous with “laziness” — but this book made me realize what a huge difference there was. You could work hard every day, but if deep inside you know you could do great things, and you simply don’t bother to do them, then you are guilty of sloth. Many Christians (and non-Christians) that I know, including myself, will recognize this as a part of their lives.”
I thank you for this affirmation…choosing what God delights in takes trust that HIS plan is a good one. My niece Sherrie recently received a very hard report from the doctor. This is what she said to me when I called her, “God has a good plan for me Aunt Cindy. Whatever the outcome, God has a good plan for me, and that’s what I will remember.” Sounds like a glad heart to me!
We don’t walk by sight but by faith. Everyday is a good day to choose God’s plan for us. Thank YOU Abba for your Word. We delight in it! And thank you brother for the giving of it.
God bless you and yours,
Cindy
Thank you Cindy! I appreciate your pointing out the difference between lazy and slothfulness. That slothful word often comes to me. You have helped me understand why. The chasing of our desires over the desires of God does make us slothful. I am guilty too. May we trust, like Sherrie in His plan whatever it may be. We do not have to understand His Ways only walk in them faithfully. Blessings as we choose Him and His delights.
Oh my amen Tom! This was a hard verse but you turned it into a wonderful affirmation. It is time to leave this world behind and pursue God!
Thank you Joseph, “pursue” is such a good and active verb. Thankful for His Word and His calling into His delights. Let us go there. Blessings and delights.
Excellent, excellent message–sometimes it takes gaining maturity (okay, age) before we stop the old futile running and grasping, and keep our eyes, heart and hands on what His Great Hands of LOVE offer us daily. God bless you BIG today.
Thank you Sis! Yes, I agree that maturity helps us to experience the false promises of our own delights. As we mature we come to know the only delights that are lasting and meaningful are His. BIG blessings my Sis as you choose His delights today.