"Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength’ they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired; they will walk and not become weary." Isaiah 40:31
Most folks who know me know I have lived life hard and fast. I much prefer running to walking in life, and because of that I often reach a state of exhaustion. Temperance is something I have never been able to acquire. Frequently I am taken back to the verse in Isaiah when I have pushed beyond my limits as I am regularly prone to do. There I am forced to wait upon the Lord to renew my strength.
There are multiple circumstances in life that reduce our strength to becoming weary quietly waiting before our Source of promised renewal. Winter can often make us feel imprisoned by cold, dark days. The lack of sunlight and being forced to stay inside more drains us emotionally and mentally. The warmth and new life of spring and summer sets me free to frolic with my Heavenly Father throughout His creation. My strength is renewed by Him!
At this time I think we all have become tired and weary as a nation. There seems to be encroaching darkness on all sides. Darkness blinds people. It causes them to lose their way. This is true for many people today, but it should not be so with God’s children. May I remind you darkness is always defeated and overcome by light–always. God’s Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our paths. (Psalm 119:105)
Jesus said in John 8:12:
"I Am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the Light of Life."
Jesus is the Lifegiver! He came to give us life and life more abundantly no matter what our circumstances become in this world. (John 10:10)
There are conditions for both verses shared in our devotional today. In Isaiah He asked us to wait upon Him looking to Him for our strength and renewal — physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Often it requires stillness and silence on our part. In John He requires us to follow the Light. This involves us taking a back seat as opposed to the front. We must keep Him and His Words before us moment by moment to follow rather than leading. I admit it isn’t easy to obey these simple instructions, but it is much easier than suffering the long term effects and consequences from disobedience, and claiming others as victims for those choices.
There are answers to all our problems and questions. Jesus gave them in John 8:31-32 to the Jews. It is the only answer there ever has been or ever will be.The wisdom of God is never outdated and doesn’t expire as man’s folly.
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed in Him,
"If you continue in My Word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."
In His love.
Teresa Roberts
Masterpiece Fitness
276-237-6680
Frolicing freely this past week in Tremont, Tennessee trail running in the Smoky Mountains National Forest. Summertime in the mountains!
