The Rock Weekly – February 21, 2024

Ask

As the Lord has been calling us into the place of greater obedience to His Word over these past weeks and months, I have seen a beautiful Biblical principle come into place in my own life; the principle of asking and receiving from the Lord.

I have been challenged lately to yield my will in new areas of my life and say ‘yes’ to His desires in my circumstances and routines.  This ‘yes’ has stretched my life in so many ways, and at times has been very difficult; but, I know that as I obey, there is good fruit that is being produced or that will be produced in time. 

Our family has been in a time of walking out this obedience to God daily, facing new challenges and trials that have arisen, addressing new financial strains and new demands on time, and making new sacrifices. These things have been challenging to us all, but I have also seen a new level of authority to ask and receive from the Lord in this season.  This concept has become more clear as I have been meditating on Isaiah 58 and reading through the sequence of events in this chapter. 

Isaiah 58 begins with a reprimand of the people to correct their heart position regarding fasting. Then He calls the people to DO specific things that are on the heart of the Lord.  These things include: “to loose the bonds of wickedness, to let the oppressed go free, to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the homeless poor into your house, to clothe the naked…” (Is 58:6-7). 

The next verses show the reward of doing these things.  “Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.  Then you shall call, and the Lord WILL ANSWER; you shall cry, and He will say…. ‘Here am I.” (Is 58:8-9)  Do you see what the Lord does in response to the cry of those walking in obedience to Him?  He promises that He will answer! You may say to yourself, “yes, I know that and have read that many times”. But have you understood and experienced the authority we have to call on the Lord, knowing that He will answer our prayers because we are living in obedience to His will? This is the promise of Isaiah 58:9!

As our family has said ‘yes’ to these commands of the Lord, there has been a boldness and expectancy to my prayer life that I had not previously experienced. I find myself coming more boldly to the throne of grace to ask the Lord to meet the very needs we are experiencing because of our ‘yes’ to His commands. And we are seeing Him answer our prayers in awesome ways! And as I see Him answer, I am filled with more faith, boldness, and assurance that He will meet all our needs according to His riches. (Phil 4:9) 

I am so thankful for God’s commands that lead us in the best way. He leads us to do things we would never do out of our own desires, knowing that a full blessing can be poured out as we obey!  What an amazing God we serve!  I encourage you to say ‘yes’ to the desires and commands of the Lord even though it will cost you something. There is a great reward both now and in eternity.  

We love you,

Pastor Kristi and your Rock Staff



 

 

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