LORD, Give Me Strength! (Isaiah 40:28-31)
If you have learned anything about life, you know that there are times where you can become weary. Times of weakness are very critical times for us because choices can be made that become damaging and destructive to our life. For example, when Elijah was weary, he became depressed and wanted to die. When David was spiritually weak, he committed adultery with Bathsheba. 1. Power of the Lord (Isaiah 40:28) Isaiah 40:28, “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.” We may get tired, but our Lord doesn't. This is what Isaiah stressed here. He focused on the power of God. a. The Lord’s power is seen in His Perpetuality. God is everlasting. He has no clock because He controls the time. With Him there is no beginning and there is no end. (Hebrews 7:3) b. The Lord's power is seen in His Perseverance. God never faints or grows weary. His sovereignty over the universe is no problem for Him. Listening to our prayers and watching over us is a breeze. He is on call and on duty 24 hours a day. He does not require a nap, a B12 shot, coffee, or energy drinks. What a comfort it is for us that we can cast all our cares upon Him (Psalm 55:22; I Peter 5:7). c. The Lord's power is seen in the fact that there are no Perimeters to His Perception. There is no searching of His wisdom or understanding. His IQ cannot be measured. He cannot be out-witted, out-foxed, or out-smarted. The roots of science, mathematics, history, biology, astronomy, anatomy, and chemistry are all found in God. He is the source of life. His wisdom enables us to solve our problems and difficulties. The depth of His wisdom cannot be found because it is infinite (Ephesians 3:18; Isaiah 55:8-9). 2. Provision of the Lord (Isaiah 40:29-30) Isaiah 40:29-30, “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:” If we are not careful, we can read over these verses without thinking about what they are saying. When you ponder it, however, it says a whole lot. Because the Lord is powerful, He has power to give to us. Youth are full of energy. No one will question that. If we could bottle their energy, we could make a fortune. Young men get exhausted, stumble, stagger, and fall. There are no supermen. Those who are young are not always strong. We all get weary and faint. It is in those times of weakness, however, that we can find out the effects of God's power and strength. That's what Paul found out in his own life. The Lord allows times of weakness in our lives that we might depend upon Him. II Corinthians 12:10, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” In spite of our weakness, we can find strength when we look to the Lord for it. He gives power to the faint, who have been overwhelmed by trouble and trials. He gives strength to those who are weakened by sickness, discouragement, depression, or physical exhaustion. God gives us strength when we are desperate for it. No matter what the cause, He can encourage, excite, and energize you to get back up on your feet and go forward for the Lord. Psalm 18:2, “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” Psalm 118:14, “The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” 3. Patiently Wait on the Lord (Isaiah 40:31) Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” The verse states that if we are weak and without strength, God urges us to wait upon Him. That can be very difficult, yet God urges us to do it. David talked often about “waiting on God.” Over and over again we read of David waiting on God. To wait on the LORD is to trust Him. Waiting on God is essential to trusting Him. David is pleading for God to lead him. He said he was waiting on God all day and desired that none that waited on God would be ashamed (Psalm 25:3). Psalm 25:3a, “Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed.” Psalm 27:14, “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” Psalm 33:20, “Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield.” Psalm 25:5, “Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.” The word "wait" means "to look eagerly for something or someone; to hope or expect." This word indicates persistence. The word “wait” in this Scripture pictures a Hebrew word used in the making of rope. To bind together; two separate things twisting around each other so they become one. As one moves, the other moves. As one is still, the other is still. The words "wait upon" carries the idea that when we wait upon the Lord, we are making the decision to bind together and abide in Him. All day, we should be in the habit of waiting on God. We should be looking eagerly for what God is going to do, how God is going to lead us, what God is going to teach us. When making rope, one must start with one strand of thread. As the process continues, every additional strand added causes its strength to increase. Every time you “wait upon the Lord” you add another thread of rope which increases your strength and allows you to manage daily duties. If you’ve ever asked the Lord for strength because you’ve felt like your hanging on by a thread, then turn to Him and hold onto these promises and your thread will feel more like a rope. Shortly after starting her perfume business, Estee Lauder realized she had to persuade a cosmetics buyer to place her products in many stores throughout the country. At 9 A.M., Lauder was in the offices of the American Merchandising Corporation, waiting to see Marie Weston, the cosmetics buyer. Since Lauder had no appointment, she was advised to come back another day. "I don't mind waiting," said Lauder. "I'll wait until she has a few free moments." Salespeople came and went. At lunchtime, the receptionist said Weston's schedule was so full that getting in to see her was impossible. Again, Lauder was told to come back later. "I'll wait a little longer," she persisted. Hours passed. At 5:15 P.M. Marie Weston came out of her office. She looked at Estee Lauder in disbelief, then admiration, and said, "Well, do come in. Such patience must be rewarded." Weston was so impressed with Lauder's cosmetics that she placed her products in her stores. The Estee Lauder name became famous in the world of cosmetics because she was persistent in waiting. If this post has blessed you in any way please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
January 2025
Categories |