“Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.” ~ Isaiah 48:18
REFERENCE:
Aren’t you tired? Aren’t you tired of the back and forth with your husband, holding on to the hurt of the breakup, and going from one prayer house to another? Aren’t you tired of sitting daily at a man’s office, waiting for him to introduce you to someone who will introduce you to another person? Aren’t you tired of doing things your way and always falling flat on your face? Aren’t you tired? I hope you are. I hope you are because going on like this is costly.
In our main text, God was displeased with His people. They quickly turned away from God to futile idols – works of their own hands, rebelled against God’s word, and often sought help from heathen kings to ally with them to fight their enemies. At this point, Israel was in captivity in Babylon, and God was ready to deliver them. The charge is God expressing pain at what Israel has to go through (captivity) because of not heeding His words through His prophets.
I have noticed that many times, mankind likes things the hard way. We once believed that ‘If it is not bitter, it won’t cure malaria’ until pharmaceuticals came with chocolate-coated malaria drugs. As we say in our local parlance, many of us like to run kiti-kiti (here and there in confusion), yet we neglect the simple things God requires of us.
God says, “Heed Me, and you will have peace like a river.” God has a better way of obedience, and it makes all the difference. He would rather you obey Him than bring offerings of thousands of dollars and forgive your wife than undergo three days of prayer and fasting. The deliverance and prosperity many seek would come if they obeyed God.
Peter did not have to pray, but obedience gave him a net-breaking catch. The servants at the wedding of Cana did not pray; their obedience turned water into wine. There is nothing wrong with prayer, but it should never substitute obedience and should spring from the platform of obedience. Obedience to God is better than any other service, religion, or charity act. If you heed the voice or word of God, you will know peace like a river. Could you try it? Aren’t you tired?
PHOTO QUOTE
Additional texts:
Matthew 11:28, I Samuel 15:22, and Deuteronomy 5:29
PRAYER:
+ O Lord, I am tired of trying, fighting, struggling, and insisting on my ways. I surrender all to You; take control of all that concerns me.
+ I receive the grace to seek out Your instructions and promises to me and to obey them or take the necessary covenant action to bring them to pass.
+ I am tired, refresh and renew me, Lord, in Jesus’ name.
