By Ashley Shepherd
Isaiah 40:28-31
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
You know when you read a passage and God highlight’s certain words in your spirit, this was the case for me today. As I began to focus on the words He was drawing me to and look them up He shed new light on what I was reading. I hope this new insight encourages you as well.
The first thing He highlighted was vs 28b, He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Power as defined by Strong’s Concordance is:
To be firm. Figuratively speaking it means capacity or produce. Additionally, in biblical usage it references strength of angels.
It elaborates on strength as being an extension of power in abundance.
Therefore, with this new found understanding I now know what He gives goes well beyond just power. He makes me firm and established by giving me a solid foundation when I grow weak. Not only that, when I don’t feel I can bare any more He gives me capacity to produce power through the revelation that it isn’t something I can create rather it’s an extension of Him, a grace gift, one of which He gives in abundance. Lastly, I loved the Strong’s referenced to angels, because as I read it I was reminded of how He gives charge of His angels to protect me and keep me. He hedges me about. I am surrounded just as you are, how amazing and glorious.
Secondly, He pointed out vs 31, specifically the word wait and renew.
I want to focus specifically on the word “wait” for a moment because there is breakthrough to those who truly grasp and cling to what I am about to say.
Strong’s defines wait as:
Look for (eagerly), hope, expect, linger for, to bind together.
The important definition here is, to bind together. What does this mean?
I was reminded of the passage which says, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19) Often times when we hear this portion of scripture referenced it’s in terms of spiritual warfare and binding the enemy, HOWEVER part of conquering/defeating the enemy isn’t merely disarming Him. Simply recognizing who’s we are and what we have access to limits the enemy’s hold on our lives. We need to bind and loose God’s spiritual blessings.
Let’s take a look at what binding and loosing mean beyond our normal perception of the words.
As I poured over the definitions in Strong’s and Merriam Webster’s, the word bind took on a whole new meaning to me beyond to simply restrain. It also means:
To put under obligation as with an oath, to make secure/firm as in a commitment, to take hold, to protect or strengthen, to compel with a promise that binds, to set to work as an apprentice; indenture as in refer to a document that has been indented (matched for authentication).
Loose in essence means release.
So as you “wait” for the Lord you are not inactive rather you are waiting in eager expectation and coming into agreement with the things He has already sworn to you as with an oath and holding Him to those words as likened to a contract that is legally binding. This my friends is releasing your faith so that the promise can be loosed rather released. The Lord loves it when we remind Him and hold Him to His word.
Not only that, this type of binding or joining together reminded me of another way we release His promises for His word says, “Truly, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:19-20)
This passage is dealing with sin in the church, but more than that it is dealing with reconciliation, bringing unity where there was disharmony. There is just something about agreeing with God, agreeing with His word, and coming into agreement with one another that the Lord just can’t resist. There is such power in this.
I know I’ve kinda jumped all over the place, but that is what I love about scripture. As we truly seek to understand His word He releases so much more knowledge than we can often comprehend. It’s like a lightbulb switches on and circuits of electricity fire all over the place giving meaning to multiple areas that you normally wouldn’t think the passage touches on. That’s why it’s so important not to get locked in to our routine understanding of scripture, but really study it.
Ok, this post has been long, but lets get to the last word, renew, because what better place to end a post than the word renew; it’s refreshing!
The Strong’s defines it as:
To pass on quickly, pass through, grow up, change for the better, to come on anew, sprout again (of grass).
All of these definitions speaks to a death to something and a birth to something new. Aren’t you excited God isn’t going to leave you where you are, but His pro ise is for something so much better. Don’t get distracted by them temporal things, the uncomfortable things. Remember, “We also glory in our sufferings,because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame (disappoint), because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5)
Know He is strengthening you today. He has great plans for you, to prosper you and give you a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Don’t grow weary in well doing, you’re about to reap a harvest (Galatians 6:9). Know, He will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? He will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert (Isaiah 43:19).
Blessings!
Tweet By Dustin Hedrick
Devo/Thought Of The Day By Ashley Shepherd, Team DHM
The post Tweets From God – I never get exhausted. So, when you are a little tired, turn to me… I have an endless supply of energy! -GOD appeared first on AUTHENTIC.
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The post Tweets From God – I never get exhausted. So, when you are a little tired, turn to me… I have an endless supply of energy! -GOD appeared first on DHM.
