What’s Your Response || Isaiah 25:1 || Manna for the Mind #25

Welcome to Day 25 of my “Manna for the Mind” devotional series! This series takes a passage of scripture (typically 1-3 verses) and builds its understanding through its context and connecting scripture. Doing this helps us understand what the Bible truly teaches us. 

Isaiah 25:1

1             O Lord, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them.

Isaiah honored and praised God because he saw that God completed the plans he set as promised. God did it for Isaiah, and He will do it for you. Take time to remember all the prayers God has answered. They may not have been answered in fulfillment, but they were answered in a way that God put you on the path he created for you. Write those answered prayers down and praise God for his goodness and faithfulness.

The first answered prayer I can think of is the job changes I went through last year. When I was on administrative leave and on my walk, hearing God tell me, “It’s time to leave. Finish up VBS and turn in your notice.” It did not happen how I wanted, but God closed the door for me when I couldn’t. Then, when I got my job at another church as an administrative assistant and Treasurer, I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t want to go back to another church after the hurt I received. Still, God used this job to teach me vital finance information and receive training for what’s next. I went through my job at Kroger, learning that I want to help people. This led to the 3 months of training I had that led me to my first year as a tax preparer. That original promise to leave my job at the time was also a response to a prayer I said years ago.

God did that and more for me. God can and will do that for you.

Ephesians 1:11

11          Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his purpose.

God has a purpose and a plan. I talked about that A LOT in my series “Deeper Creation.” I’ll leave a link to part one, where you can learn the purpose and plan. God planned to bring salvation to the entire world long ago. God’s plan to rescue the world from the evil of sin started way back in Genesis 1. God ruled over everything, showing everything that he was in charge of them. The main thing to remember is that God is in control.

Rest in that fact when your life seems chaotic: God is in control. God has got what feels spiraling to you. God can take care of what feels out of control and bring it back into alignment. We also need to remember that Jesus is our Lord. We haven’t gone through anything that he didn’t go through himself. It may not be the same exact situation, but we can respond in ours like he did in his. So, what’s your response?

Father God! We thank you for the answered prayers. We thank you that you will answer our prayers again and again! They may not turn out how we want, but we know your ways are more significant than ours. Please help us remember that, and remind us to always share in gratitude and celebration of everything you do for us. It’s in your name, we pray. Amen.