Isaiah 26:1-4

So today, I finally had a day off from work. My life here has been pretty crazy busy. And to be honest, I haven't been spending much time with Jesus. And to be honest, I think sometimes I forget He is with me in my time of work b/c I'm so busy. I do not want to forget Him. I want to be in total communication with Him 24/7 but b/c I let busyness get in the way...I feel like its been a couple weeks since Jesus and I talked. So today, I have been spending time with Him. He put on my heart to start a little bible study through my blog on Isaiah 26. I keep reading this over and over and honestly, I have no idea why. Yes, it is encouraging but it really is sticking out to me. So I believe the Lord wanted me to share this with you! We'll see his purpose eventually but here is some encouragement..Let's begin!
Isaiah 26:1-4 (NLT version) "(1)Our city is strong! We are surrounded by the walls of God's salvation. (2)Open the gates to all who are righteous; allow the faithful to enter. (3)You will keep in perfect peace all who trust you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! (4)Trust in the Lord, always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock."
I think some big words that pop out of these verses are "strong", "walls of God's salvation", "open", "perfect peace", "thoughts fixed on you", "eternal Rock". I would like to hear what words pointed out to you and what they mean to you! Feel free to comment! :) So lets break this down.
Vs 1: Our life is strong b/c we have the Lord's salvation is surrounding us! When we are in Christ, we have stability in our lives, though things around us seem shaky. God has given us through Jesus restoration, new life, hope, deliverance, freedom. Its up to us if we are willing to accept the gift of salvation b/c that is all what is in the box! We find self worth, love, freedom, hope! Nothing in this life that comes against you can prosper because you have the Lord Jesus on your side, but you need to trust Him!
Vs 2: I know for me being in Hawaii, I want the Lord's will! I want Him to open doors! I want to know my purpose! We all want a purpose and the thing is, you do have a purpose! God has a specific calling on your life that He only wants YOU to do! He is calling you. Will you be faithful and act? Ask Him to make it clear. We need to ask him for forgiveness and show us mercy to allow us to enter! He wants you to enter! He's inviting you into this new life that is freedom! No more, "I gotta catch up, I gotta do this to be accepted. I gotta do this to make me happy, to get away from this problem" You have hope!
Vs 3: Though the winds may blow and trials WILL come, you will not be shaken b/c the Lord is with you. He will give me and you perfect peace in the chaos, confusion, not understanding times, of life! Even though the situation may be uncomfortable, seek Him and be still before Him. Seek His words! He will give you peace, then you will be filled with strength! Setting our thoughts on Jesus is not focusing on what is happening to you right now, what is going on around you right now. It's focusing on trusting what He is doing! There is SOO much in the unseen than there is on the seen! God is so much bigger than what is seen! In Habbakuk 1:5 He tells the prophet, "I am doing something in your own day, something that if someone told you, you wouldn't believe!" He is at work, though you may not see it. Just trust in His word, Trust in His commands!
Vs 4: This goes along with the vs. 3 but No matter what the situation may look like, Don't give up! I have been tested out here with even believing God is there! I questioned quite a bit, but He pulls through! Ask Him to reveal Himself, be patient, and be open! Most of all, be still!! You gotta be still, give Him a chance to show you! Nothing fathoms God, Nothing surprises Him, Nothing can overcome Him! Everything He does is good! Yeah, you might be right now, "Umm..really? b/c my life sucks right now!" God never promised an easy life, but he promised a victorious life through Jesus! If you just turn to Him, be still, listen to Him, OBEY Him (that's I think the part that we struggle with..just sayin), give Him a chance, He will come through! He works on our behalf! I promise you, you just got to be still before Him.

I am going to go through this chapter in Isaiah for awhile on here! Feel free to join me in this study and ask questions or make comments on here or on the post I put on facebook! I would love to hear it! I want to encourage all of you as we run this race together, and if you are not a Christian, THAT's OK! I want to encourage you and just share with you how awesome Jesus is b/c He loves you! One thing to leave you with til next time, "So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time He will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God for He cares about you!" (1 Peter 5:6-7) The God of the universe cares and LOVES you!