Text:
Isaiah 26:8-9 (ESV)
8 In the path of your judgments, O LORD, we wait for you; your name and remembrance are the desire of our soul.
9 My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
Observation:
Have you experienced an unusual amount of chaos recently? The Bible tells us that there would be days, and seasons similar to what you are experiencing.
2 Timothy 3:1 (AMP)
1 BUT UNDERSTAND this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear].
What should be the response of believers in times like these? I find in the reading of our text, and life experiences some guidance. It involves taking the upward look.
In verse eight of our text Isaiah says, “Your name and remembrance are the desire of our soul”.
In verse nine Isaiah says, “My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you”.
The Lord’s heart and hands are not far from His people. He longs to have His people draw near to Him.
1 Peter 3:12 (ESV)
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
There is nothing that comforts the soul during times of great stress, and trouble than singing praise to God. One of the songs I love to sing is this one by Valerie Boyd.
“My soul loves Jesus,
my soul loves Jesus,
my soul loves Jesus;
Bless His name.
He’s a wonder in my soul,
He’s a wonder in my soul,
He’s a wonder in my soul;
Bless His name.”
Prayer:
Father, I unite my voice with the Psalmist, and all of Your people who agree, in lifting up my voice in praise and adoration of Your most holy, and righteous name.
Father, if Your people ever needed the nearness of Your presence, the time is now. Father, you are the desire of our soul; Lord, we seek Your face, and long for Your tender heart, and strong hands to give us Your peace in exchange for the stress and chaos we are facing. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
