Hitting at the heart

The following is an excerpt from Will You Worship? by Ray Jones (with Dino Sinesi).  This was from Day 3 of the study, and it really hit me hard this morning.  God meant this specifically for me.

You may know what it is like to be forced to live someplace far from where you want to be.  Most of us have experienced those feelings whether through leaving home for school or a job transfer  God's people were in a state of extreme homesickness in Isaiah 43.  The Babylonians had made them both prisoners and slaves.  They were far from home in a place they hated with a people they hated.  Their life situation was bad and they were behaving badly as a result. 

God comforted His people in spite of themselves.  He reassured them that He had all things under control and would ultimately free them from the bondage they hated.   He promised better days ahead.  He told of something new coming in Isaiah 43:19, "Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it?  I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert."  Whatever was coming, it had to be an upgrade from what was already there!

We often obsess when God seems to say no to us but we forget to praise Him when we get what we want.  God told His people how to respond when He comes through for them.  God wants worship to be a DNA issue in our lives or a natural, encoded part of how we relate to Him.  He used a striking example to explain:  "The beasts of the field will glorify Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I have given waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My chosen people" (Isaiah 43:20).  Not only will the beasts of the fields including jackals and ostriches glorify God but His own people will too!  What a shame to think that wild animals will worship God but domesticated man could be too tired or self-absorbed to worship Him!

The thought of growing tired of God or taking His provision for granted seems ridiculous but it happens...

I never want to grow tired of God or take His provision for granted.  I don't want to lose sight of the blessings He has abundantly showered on me.  I don't want to become so self-consumed that I only feel my pain and become oblivious to the pain of others.  I want to praise God through every season of my life.  I want to hear "Well done, good and faithful servant."  Thankful that His sufficiency replaces my insufficiency.  That He has made me into the amazing daughter of the King who He wants me to be, and will continue perfecting me until His return.