“Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live.”
Isaiah 55:2–3
These are actions God is calling us to today: LISTEN (to give one’s attention to), EAT (consume, devour, ingest), DELIGHT (taking great pleasure in), INCLINE (being willing, ready, prepared for), COME (move or travel toward), and HEAR (to perceive).
These actions will cause our soul — our spirit — our energy — to truly live. This doesn’t mean to just survive, it means to thrive.
The is what our thriving will look like:
“So you’ll go out in joy,
you’ll be led into a whole and complete life.
The mountains and hills will lead the parade,
bursting with song.
All the trees of the forest will join the procession,
exuberant with applause.
No more thistles, but giant sequoias,
no more thorn bushes, but stately pines —
Monuments to me, to God,
living and lasting evidence of God.”Isaiah 55:12–13 (Msg)
When we turn from the things that we know aren’t so great in our lives; when we delight in and come and hear God, we find our peace, even in our mountains and hills.
Wherever you are today, not only does God have peace and rest for you, but he actually has singing-and-hands-clapping-kind of joy and rejoicing for you!
WHEREVER YOU ARE TODAY, NOT ONLY DOES GOD HAVE PEACE AND REST FOR YOU, BUT HE ACTUALLY HAS SINGING-AND-HANDS-CLAPPING-KIND OF JOY AND REJOICING FOR YOU!
Take some time today to escape the distractions of your current realities. Maybe take a walk in nature (or find a body of water, or a park bench, a coffee shop, or a yoga class), and share what’s on your heart to God. Ask to desire him and to hear him more. And then start believing him and looking for those rejoicing trees and those singing mountains because he has them for you, even now.