A FULL LIFE IN THE EMPTIEST OF PLACES

“And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your soul in scorched and dry places, And give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.” Isaiah 58:11

In the Name of our Mighty and Everlasting Father, His Son, our Savior Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit Who is dwelling in us, I greet you on behalf of Shalom Family Enrichment Mission a Happy and Blessed New Year.
Another year – none of us know what is going to happen – yet our LORD promises: “You will be like a watered garden, like a spring of water”. How can this happen? He gives us an assurance that throughout this year He will guide us. He promises: “I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places” (MSG). He guarantees giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. So let us step into the New Year with the confidence that we have the Mighty and Everlasting God with us in the form of the Holy Spirit.

The book of Isaiah is predominantly written to the people of Israel and takes them on the journey of God’s redemptive plan, where the increasingly apostate nation is called to repent of their sins and return to the Lord their God. They are reminded that a Messiah is coming but that their continuing apostasy would seal their exile from the land that was given to their forefather, Abraham.

Isaiah informs them of impending judgments that would soon fall on the nations of the world for their treatment of God’s people, but that God would also punish the errant kingdom of Israel for straying so far from Him. And as the book of Isaiah draws to a close, God also comforts His people with renewed promises of deliverance from their enemies, restoration to their land and the arrival of God’s chosen Servant.

The truths of God’s never-failing faithfulness, that are contained in His redemptive plan for Israel are equally pertinent for the Church today. Like Israel we have been delivered from the curse of the law, the bondage of sin and its terrible wages, and have already won the victory in Jesus Christ our Lord. We are reminded that Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us and that He who started a good work in us will complete it in the day of Christ Jesus. We are blessed to know that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will direct our way and that the Spirit of God will guide us into all truth. Our parched soul have been revived and satisfied by the living water of life, which has become an inner spring of water, welling up into eternal life. Indeed we know that we have a blessed hope and an eternal inheritance in Christ that is kept for us in heaven.

I’m ever aware of how God sustains us despite our circumstances. Even in dry places and in drought, He will satisfy us and make us strong. We shall be like a watered garden and a spring whose waters never fail. I believe this can be in the physical, emotional and spiritual realms. Even in times of financial lack and hardship, God provides us with our daily bread. And those times when we feel a spiritual barrenness or emotional barrenness, God can sustain us and water our souls to refresh us and to restore us.

May God bless you throughout this New Year and make His face shine upon you, give you good health, flawless life, guiding you in His path every day.

Prayer
Our Father in heaven, Your promises are very precious and are new every morning. Thank You that You lead and guide at all times and that You are the only refreshment my soul needs. As I face this New Year, I pray that new showers of Your sufficient grace will flood my weary soul so that rivers of Your living waters may flow through me to others, in need of Your grace, in Jesus name I pray, AMEN.