IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2009
58 . . .
I am way late sitting to write this morning, but when my beloved makes pecan waffles for my birthday celebration, I just had to sit and eat. I am not sure what a 58-year-old is supposed to feel like, but I feel blessed! And I look at that number – 58 – and I think my goodness does that number really represent me! I often still feel like a child; act like one too many times! But obviously, the number says I am long, long past childhood. I have already been reflecting this morning. Reflecting on who I think I am and how I got this way and who I want to be when I finally grow up. That’s some heavy-duty thinking; maybe I’ll table it for now as that just might not be an encouraging devotional thought for you all this morning.
Isaiah 60 is a special passage to me. On the screen of my mind, I can still see myself sitting before the Lord before dawn in a tiny apartment, only one lamp burning with His Word opened as He directed me to Isaiah 60. I remember thinking that surely He had not spoken that passage reference over me as I said to Him, ‘I don’t even know if there is an Isaiah 60’. There was and there is. Here’s a link for easy convenience if you would like to read it in its entirety. Otherwise, let’s look at a verse or two together.
Isaiah 60 (Amplified Bible)
1ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you–rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! 2For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you.
Obviously, this passage was written to Israel and it shall surely come to be. But I encourage you to read it this morning inserting your name in the place of Jerusalem, spiritually speaking, of course. Read this passage as The Lord Himself speaking directly to you; for He surely is! Now try it again; get inside it, and FEEL Him speaking to you. Read it in first person. I don’t think He will mind at all.
1ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you–rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! 2For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you.
How about a Kathie Whitestone Thompson paraphrase?
1ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you My Dear One –rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with (My Glory, My Goodness, that’s what I want for you; that’s what I came to give you) the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, (it’s time, this is YOUR time to shine with My Glory. Let it be so in you, My princess (prince) ) and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! 2For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples (I know you live in a dark world, immense darkness. I know. I understand. I’ve been there, remember? I’ve walked where you are walking right now today. I know. I understand and I AM with you. I AM with you. Listen and believe Me. I have come for you. I have come to shine and pour My glory, My goodness into you. Yes, into YOU.), but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you. (This is My desire, it is My good pleasure for My Glory to be seen in YOU. Yes, today! I love you so much! Get up and believe Me. Get up and Shine! Yes, you can. I AM right here. Shine with ME today. And remember, I love you always and forever; no matter what – I love you and I AM here. Shine!)
Father GOD, such an intimate address, isn’t it? Yet, I heard another of Your servants say yesterday that it’s Your favorite when we really mean it. When we really believe and know that You are Father GOD to us and we do know that in You, Lord Jesus. And only in You. We know that only this faith called Christian can call You Abba, Father GOD. No other ‘belief’ allows that. And no other belief is true and I believe that. Thank You, Father. Thank You. Now about this passage in Your Word, Isaiah 60. Thank You for speaking it over me and now that I am sharing it (probably again) with our IDOKs and I believe You are speaking it over them too and so I am counting on You Holy Spirit to make it alive to them because I know that only YOU can do that. Without You giving it life it will be just words on a screen. All the words we read, all the words we hear are only words, maybe even meaningless words unless YOU give life to them and that is what I am asking You to do for our people today.
And I am asking You to comfort Barbara and Scott and Natalie and the grandchildren today and for many, many days to come as they grieve; and Julee and her Girls and grandchildren and others as they grieve and miss Roy. There is sadness in the Body today and there is joy and You are here with us in it all. Thank You. We pray for peace and safety for our IDOK Troops today and peace and safety for Israel until this passage of Isaiah 60 is fleshed out in them. And we pray for America, for space and grace to repent. More and more I hear of the greed and waste and it saddens and grieves and yes often angers me and I pray for direction for us. Thank You. That is the direction – Shine. You are so good! I love You Father GOD and Lord Jesus thank You for making it so in Your Holy Spirit. And before we close this we don’t want to forget everyone listed here, we don’t want to leave out a single soul, asking You for blessings and comfort and peace and help and provisions and direction for each one of them. Amen and amen.
As I post this it is 57°F and haze in Balad, IQ (Airport) and the time is 6:24 PM AST and on December 17, 2009.
The White Stone 