Friday January 13, 2023

Today is Friday, January 13 and we are seeking what God has next for us in the new year.

As I approach this quiet time alone with God, I slow my breathing and focus my whole being on His loving presence. I pause to silence the clutter of my rambling thoughts and still the discord of my spirit.

Pause and Pray

Come Holy Lord, reveal whatever You have next for me in this new year. I surrender myself to Your pleasing and perfect will, trusting in the knowledge that You continue to work all things together for good in me. Guide and equip me to fulfill Your desires, purposes and plans. Amen.

In the morning I seek God and lift up my heart to Him with the words of Psalm 20.

May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests. Psalm 20:4-5

Pause and Pray

As I peer into the future and seek to make plans for a new year, I sometimes get ahead of what God has for me. If I want to know what is most important to me, I need only look at my calendar and bank account. Where do I spend my time and my money? What occupies my thoughts? In this passage from the book of Isaiah, I am reminded that my thoughts and understanding are vastly limited when compared with God’s. If that is the case, why would I spend so much time and energy making my own plans for the future, thinking about what I want, deciding where I will go and what I will do without consulting the Lord. God’s knowledge and wisdom is where I place my trust for whatever is next.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:8-11

I gaze outside at the sky, the clouds, the sun, moon and stars and consider how far they soar above the earth. God’s thoughts and ways are far beyond my comprehension and understanding. I am too limited to even consider what God’s purposes and plans are for my life. Yet I often lean on my own understanding when it comes to the future. Rainy days will come and the water will refresh and nourish the ground bringing the earth to life. God’s word is alive in the same way. God’s word will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purposes for which it is sent. The word of God will speak into my life and accomplish God’s desires and achieve God’s purposes for me.

Ask: How is the word of God speaking into my life and informing my future? How can I spend more time in God’s word in the new year and seek to understand His thoughts and ways?

Pause and Pray

Holy Lord God, Your word is truth and has power to bring forth Your perfect will in the world. Forgive me when I foolishly think my thoughts and ways are enough to guide me. Remind me to slow down, listen to you and allow Your word to work in me to accomplish Your desires and achieve Your purposes. I place my complete trust and confidence in You to realize my best future. I read the words from Isaiah again and listen for the message you have for me.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:8-11

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

I seek to know God’s plans and purposes in 2023 and realize the future God has for me. How might God be speaking to me through the ancient words of the prophet Isaiah? When I consider the words or phrases that leap out to me, or perhaps the images of rain, snow, seed or bread that most resonate with me, what might that reveal about my direction for the upcoming year. In a new year, how might I prepare the soil of my heart to receive God’s living word and yield fresh fruit for the Lord?

Pause and Pray

Come, Father God, prepare the soil of my heart to receive what You are speaking into my life. Sow the seed of Your word in the ground of my soul. Open the scriptures to me and give me understanding. Do not permit Your word to return empty, but accomplish the plans and purposes You desire through a life surrendered to You. Let me bear fruit for You. Amen.

The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Matthew 13:20-23

I leave this time of prayer nourished by the Word of God, I go to sow good seed into the lives of others.

Amen