I Am Not Condemned -- For The Lord Restores!

Scripture:  Isaiah 40:28-31- Have you not known?  Have you not heard?  The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary.  His understanding is unsearchable.  He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might, He increases strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

I am blessed to have a husband and a large family.  We try to be there for one another in various ways.  I have some devoted friends, and they, too, have been known to give me boat loads of encouragement along the way.  But there are times when neither my husband, family, nor friends are able to reach me; they are not able to throw me a ‘life line” I can catch.  During those isolated and desperate moments, I am convinced I have fallen from grace. I know I have let my ABBA Father down.  Those times when I failed to witness my faith or I said something to another that I know was not a good witness to my “Jesus” testimony.  In my thoughts, I realized I was able, in Christ to do what would have honored Him, but I chose not to rise to the occasion of being all I am in Him.  Ever so crushed, I must run (no time for a casual stroll) to the Rock which I know is higher than myself.  That rock is Jesus and His Word.  I run to verses, which I know He has given “me”:  Ps 27:13 - I would have fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living; Ps 139:14 - I am wonderfully and fearfully made; Jer 31:3 - I am loved with an everlasting love; II Tim 1:7 - God has given me power, love and a sound mind; Rom 8:1 – There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus; Heb 13:5 – Christ will never leave me nor forsake me.  His Word is able to awaken and strengthen my inner man.  My armor is restored; my faith is renewed!  The Lord is my very present help; and I see Him High and Lifted; He is my Strong Tower; He is my Refuge and Shelter from the storm; He is my Provider, my Keeper, my Helper, my Deliverer, my……

Prayer:  Lord, I thank You for the way You love and renew me…For the way You know everything about me; and yet, You, Oh Lord, still desire to use me.  You meet me, right there, in my desperation:  You know and love that I have no place else to go, but to You.  You see me and how I am prone to wander, but You still, with open arms, restore me.  Oh Lord, Thank You for Your WORD!!  I am so grateful!! In Jesus’ Name-Amen!!

(by Lisa Williams)