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Praying God’s Word Wednesday #41: Isaiah 52:6

March 23, 2022 by Lauren 24 Comments

Isaiah 52:6" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/laurensparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Verse-41.png?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/laurensparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Verse-41.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/laurensparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Verse-41.png?w=500&ssl=1 500w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />In the book of Isaiah, chapter 52, Isaiah prophesies of hope in Christ the Redeemer and the glory of His coming kingdom.  Israel, God’s chosen people, had been enslaved, abused and mistreated.  With their eyes on their circumstances, they questioned God, disappointed Him and oftentimes turned their backs on Him.  But in Isaiah 52:6, a time is foretold when the slaves will be redeemed and clothed as kings.

 

“Therefore My people shall know My name; therefore in that day I am the one who is speaking, ‘Here I am.'”  Isaiah 52:6 NASB

 

Our God has many names.  He is called Father, The Beginning and the End, The God Most High, The God Who Sees, God Almighty, The Creator, The Self-Existent One, The Lord our Provider, The Lord our Healer, and on and on.

 

Upon reading this verse, the simple words formed a very profound prayer for me. 

When praying for someone to know His name(s), we in essence ask for God to reveal every aspect of His nature to our loved one.

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And for that person to understand Him as such.  Let the enormity of that sink in for a moment.

 

In using the second part of the verse, when we ask for God to speak “Here I am”, we are also actually asking for the object of our intercession to know God well enough to recognize His voice in a sea of others.  And we also ask for God to draw near.  So much spiritual depth in one sentence of scripture.  So let’s pray.

 

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Replace the name and pronouns with the appropriate ones for the person (or yourself) that you are praying for.

 

Praying for you in this.  And don’t forget to share on social media or with a friend who could benefit.  It would mean so much to me.  And if you don’t want to miss a Praying God’s Word Wednesday, subscribe over on the right hand side of this page.

Lauren

 

 

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A Lesson in Giving Thanks from the Passover

November 19, 2021 by Lauren 14 Comments

passoverEarlier this year I read Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus:  How the Jewishness of Jesus Can Transform Your Faith by Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg.  I highly recommend this book as an exercise in deeping your knowledge and relationship with Jesus. 

 

I know that next week is Thanksgiving, not Passover, but it is a traditional Passover song (taught in the book) that gave me an entirely different perspective on gratitude.  

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Passover Song

 

The name of the song, “Dayeinu”, means “enough for us”.  Fifteen verses recount a long list of God’s blessings with a refrain of dayeinu after each verse.  The words drive home that if God had stopped at any one, His people would still be completely satisfied.  Here is a sample (from the book) of the verses:

 

If he had rescued us from Egypt,

but not punished the Egyptians,

it would have been enough!  (Dayeinu)

If he had punished the Egypians,

but not defeated their gods,

it would have been enough…

If he had given us the Sabbath

but not led us to Mount Sinai,

it would have been enough…

If he had led us to Mount Sinai,

but not given us the Torah,

it would have been enough…

If he had given us the Torah,

but not brought us into the Land of Israel,

it would have been enough…

How much more, then, are we to be grateful to God

for all of these good things which he has indeed done

for all of us!

 

What a wonderful attitude of gratefulness!

 

Maybe your parents, like mine, taught you from a young age to thank others for a gift or compliment received.  And to thank God for the blessings in your life.  But this song fell fresh on me in a way that I may struggle to express to you.  Dayeinu means that even if I didn’t have the things I have, I would still have reason to thank Him.

 

What a magnificent revelation!  And a challenging heart check.  It reminds me of another song  – Even If by Mercy Me.  My mom introduced me to this one as I began my journey with cancer almost 5 years ago now.

I know You’re able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don’t
My hope is You alone
I know the sorrow, and I know the hurt
Would all go away if You’d just say the word
But even if You don’t
My hope is You alone

A Challenge in Giving Thanks from the Passover

 

In the tradition of Dayeinu, I pray, “If you crafted my body to work, play, bear children and care for my family, but it never stopped hurting, it would be enough.  If you gave me the talent and desire to give testimony of you through writing but I never have a book published, it would be enough.  And If you allowed me to mother the sweetest child I’ve ever known, but she never stops having seizures, it would be enough.

 

Spend some time with this tradition this week.  Thank God for the things you have, of course.  But also thank Him in the midst of the things you don’t.  Maybe write out a few verse of your own to add to the song.  Take some inspiration from mine if that helps.  I would love to hear yours in the comments below.  And if you’re really brave, introduce the concept at your Thanksgiving table and see where it takes you.

 

If you read this post today, but never read another I wrote, it would be enough.  I am so very grateful for you and wish you a blessed Thanksgiving.

 

Now for this week’s featured post from the link up!

 

We should make Can I Really Persevere in Daily Gratitude as a Matter of Obedience? by Michele Morin required reading for every believer.  Let’s face it, life can be hard – days often rough.  We don’t always feel gratitude, much less feel like expressing it.  This gentle reminder may comes right on time in this season.

 

1. Share 1 or 2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. (No DIY, crafts, recipes, or inappropriate articles.) All links are randomly sorted.

2. Comment on 1 or 2 other links. Grace & Truth linkup encourages community.

3. Every host features one entry from the previous week. To be featured, include this button or link back here on your post (mandatory to be featured, but not to participate).

Grace and Truth_Meet Hosts

We encourage you to follow our hosts on their blogs or social media.

MAREE DEE – Embracing the Unexpected
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

LAUREN SPARKS
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

LISA BURGESS – Lisa notes
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

TAMMY KENNINGTON – Restoring hope. Pursuing peace.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Now Let’s Link Up!

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

Sharing is caring! If you liked this post, do me the huge honor of using the buttons below to share it to your favorite social media accounts. And if you want to get these essays emailed to you once a week, subscribe!  Lastly, my posts may contain affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy anything from one of these links, I will receive a few pennies to help offset the cost of this website at no additional charge to you. Thank you in advance for your help.

 

To find some great places where I might be sharing this post, click here.

 

 

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About Me

I love Jesus, my husband and caffeine. The order of these can change depending on how tired I am. When my two daughters, stepson, and 4 grandchildren get to be too much, I practice yoga. God graciously allows me to share our adventures, victories and flub-ups from my laptop. May He be glorified here.
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