Personalizing Scripture

O LORD, be gracious to us; we have waited for You. Be their strength every morning, our salvation also in the time of distress. Isaiah 33:2

Scripture is meant to engage our hearts. For years I was not able to apply the words to myself. God always seemed to be talking to Israel or David or some other patriarch. Unless it was a generic verse that mentioned the whole world or a verse of condemnation, I did not think I could own it as mine. Oh, the many messages I did not hear!

This morning I had the privilege and experience of putting my name in Isaiah 33:2. It became my prayer and my heart's cry to God. Penned almost 3,000 years ago it becomes fresh and alive for me today. It becomes my words spoken into the very ears of God. I know He delights in the times I use His words as my own personal prayer journal. Although it took me decades to begin embracing His words for myself, He smiles at the fact that I do it now.

But I have also learned the power that comes when I pray scripture and insert a friend's name there. I can only imagine how it would minister to someone if I sent them an email or card with these words:

Friend,May the Lord be gracious to You ~ I know you are waiting for Him to act. May He be Your strength every morning and your salvation at this difficult time in your life.

I can imagine they would see my love and concern for them, but even more, their eyes would be directed toward the real Source of their help!

Father, this morning there are many names (including my own) that I could insert in this portion of Scripture. They are as fresh today as when Isaiah first penned them. Thank You that Your eyes and heart are open to my cry. Amen.

Above and Beyond

For as the heavens are higher than the earth. so are My ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9

This verse is a good reminder to me that we cannot out dream, out think, or out plan God! Anything we come up with God can take farther than we imagined. He is not limited by our limitations. Often we can only see the little picture or what is right in front of us. We assume we have seen it all. That there is no more to come of it. Maybe it is time we allowed God to remind us of what He has done in the past so that our view of what He wants to do in the present and future will be enlarged.

For quite some time now I have been sending out email devotionals. It is my joy of each morning! I came across the very first devotional journal entry that I made in the spring of 2004. It went as follows:

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. James 1:1

James is writing to Jewish Christians who are scattered because of persecution. Many would have been babes in Christ. He surely remembered his fear when the disciples fled the Garden of Gethsemane. He will draw upon personal experiences to encourage them.
Each time I have been emotionally or physically separated from someone I love, the pain can be great. May I remember the pain when someone else faces it.

Show me Your presence and remind me of Your love when the people I so much want to be with are not available. Amen.

When I first started journaling my thoughts I had no intention of sharing them with anyone. But God’s ways are higher than my ways. He took the beginning seeds of my time with Him and grew them into what I send out today. Once again I have to tell myself that His ways are still higher than my ways. I don’t think He is finished with His purpose in the devotionals. He has more in store than I have dared to believe Him for. May I join Him!

Father, I want to know Your higher ways and thoughts for me. Amen.