The Promises of God - Day 8

God’s Word Will Accomplish Its Purpose.Isaiah 55:10-11: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth, and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire, and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Do you remember the Water Cycle from middle school science class? It’s the scientific explanation for rain, evaporation, condensation, and rain all over again.  My 6th grade science teacher told our class that because of the water cycle, we drank the same water the dinosaurs did.  Now, I think she was making an analogy rather than being literal, but who knows, perhaps we are drinking dino-water? Either way, her analogy worked, and all these years later, I still remember the point: what comes down from the heavens has a purpose on earth, and once that purpose is accomplished, it returns back to the heavens for the cycle to begin again.

Here in Isaiah, we find God using the water cycle to make an analogy of His own.  In verse 10, our Heavenly Father compares His Word to the water cycle.  God tells us that just like rain and snow are sent from Heaven with a purpose to nourish the Earth and make it fruitful, His word is sent from Heaven with the purpose to nourish us. God has intention for every word He has spoken the same way He has intention for every rain drop. God intends His Word for our growth and to help us accomplish His purpose. And the best part?  His words are intended for our lives the same way they were intended for the ancient audience.

• Is the analogy God uses in verse 10-11 between rain and His word meaningful to you? What can we learn about the character and nature of God from this analogy?  Remember, it was God himself who spoke these words.

In verse 11, God gives us the promise that His words will not return to him void, but will accomplish His purpose.  There are 2 important things we can learn from this one little verse. 1) God was intentional with His words and 2) God’s words have power.  See this clearly: God’s WORDS were intentionally spoken by Him, and His WORDS have power.  Do we believe that the power of the Almighty is present in His words?  He says it is – and God cannot lie.  We are an action-based society that places quite a bit of value in the “doing.”  At times, our natural inclination is to believe God’s power is best shown through His acts.  The miracles of the Old Testament, the miracles of Jesus, the passion of the Apostles are all testaments to God’s power to accomplish His purpose, but each of these actions was accompanied by God’s words.  He gave us His words for a purpose.  He says His words will accomplish the purpose He sent them to accomplish.  His words have power.

What do you need God’s words to accomplish in your life for His purpose?  In John 10:10, Jesus declares that He has come to bring us abundant life.  Is your life seeming less than abundant? Scripture is full of hope, encouragement, strength, and peace that God intends for us to harness for abundant living in this world. God intended it, and Jesus died to bring it so that we can be living examples of His power and glory. We need God’s word in our lives the way the Earth needs rain. Without it, our spirits will dry up and wither like a parched Earth.  We can’t receive what He has to give if we fail to spend time with his word.  Since God promises His word will not fail, test Him in this and see if it’s not true.  Trust the power of His word to bring abundance into your life so you can accomplish His purpose.

• Are you feeling less than courageous? Let Ephesians 6:10, Hebrews 13: 5-6, and 2 Timothy 1:7 encourage you.
• Are you anxious and fearful? Let Philippians 4:6-7, Psalms 94:19, Psalms 55:22, Isaiah 35:4, and Isaiah 43:1 calm you.
• Are you grieving or in need of comfort? Let Lamentations 3:22-23, 2 Corinthians 1:3, Psalms 119:76, and Isaiah 49: 13 comfort you.
• Are you feeling a lack of peace? Let John 14:27, Psalm 4:8, Isaiah 26:3, and Psalm 119:165 strengthen you.
• Are you struggling to feel close to the Lord? Let Jeremiah 29: 13, Proverbs 8:17, Psalm 9:10, Psalm 34: 10, and Lamentation 3:35 draw you near you.

Every Word that comes from the Lord is faithful and true.  There is meaning and purpose in scripture for your life, in the circumstances that you are living in, and for the feelings you are feeling right now.  Believe that God wants to be part of your life. Believe that He has a good word to nourish you and bring your spirit refreshment.  Jesus died to bring us abundant life so that we could live for Him.  Be in the word. Find refreshment. Live abundantly.

• What strategies can you use to be more intentional about seeking God’s word for the specific circumstances of your life? 

Be blessed, be a blessing.