Episode 40: Isaiah 30:15
Transcription
Today’s verse is Isaiah 30:15
This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it.
Let’s pray together.
Father, I pray we will pay attention to anything said by You. It can be so easy to skate by those words in our Bible, either because we don’t understand them or we’ve read them too many times or we don’t want to take the time that day. It doesn’t matter, when we see them, I pray our entire being takes notice. I ask forgiveness for all the times when my eyes skimmed past Your words, trying to get on to the next part of my day.
I thank You that You took the time to provide Your words to us. It is awe-inspiring that such infinite wisdom and timeless advice was handed down throughout history, preserved for the moment when I would need it. We are grateful that You cared enough about us to make sure we would have the help we need. Though we often feel lost and confused, we have the directions here, and we can follow them and get clarification and discernment from Your Holy Spirit.
Today I pray for us that our first step of repentance is clear. Let us know where each of us have failed and where we need to turn to You. Reveal to us where we have not followed You, where we have allowed our own hearts and desires to rule over our lives. Where have we been selfish? Where have we been cruel? Where have we been angry? Where have we been careless? Where have we hurt others? Where have we ignored You? Teach us and convict us with your kindness, leading us to repentance.
Today I pray that we will remember to rest. Our lives are full of hustle and worry and stress. We have so much to do and so little time. We have so many responsibilities. But I pray we will instead prioritize times of rest, of healing, of relationship-building friendship with You. We cannot earn anything of real value, but we can accept the gift of rest You so clearly laid out for us in Your word. Help us to remember Your example and know that when we work hard, we also need to recover. Provide the ways and means for us, LORD.
Today I pray we would think before we speak. So often we blurt out hateful or thoughtless speech and regret it immediately. We have hurt loved ones and we have been too loose with confidential information and we have tried to earn favor by telling secrets. We are full of pride and bluster, but I pray we are renewed by a dignified restraint coming directly from You. Help us to be intentional with our speech. Help us to wonder if what we want to say will hurt or heal. Will it be taken in the spirit in which it was meant? You do have words for us to speak, Jesus, so I pray we hear those words and not our own. I pray that in those times of quiet, we will be able to hear Your voice because we made space for it.
Today I pray that in all things we trust in You before ourselves, before others, before what the world tells us is right. It can be so easy to journey down paths of self-righteousness and self-protection. We want assurances that all will be made comfortable and well. We want to get the best and have the easiest life. When it’s not easy we don’t think of turning to You, but we think of how we can fix the situation. When it is easy, we aren’t grateful to You, we are priding ourselves on our own careful preparation. Remind us that everything we have and are is because of You. You are Sovereign and You are in control. I pray that no matter where I am or what is happening that I have a deep centered calm in my soul, knowing that I can trust You will take care of me as You have promised.
With these things, LORD, we are grateful for Your salvation and Your strength. We need them to endure. We cannot earn either one. We need You. Too often, as in this verse, the Israelites and we following their example, have denied and turned our back on this simple formula of reliance on You. Your words have shown that it is never the right path. So help us turn back to You, let us learn from our mistakes. Help us to shun fear and pride and instead accept Your words with humility and courage. Forge our paths and direct us the way to walk in them.
I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
