Category: Hope

“Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.”

Isaiah 46:9 NLT

Focus Word and Verse of the Year

At my home church, we are encouraged to choose a word with an accompanying verse from the Bible at the beginning of each year. This word and verse are to serve as a battle cry of sorts as we seek to deepen our faith and keep our focus where it belongs—on Jesus.

The Search Begins

When we flipped our calendars earlier this month, my thought process was that it would be fitting to choose a word that had to do with vision in the year 2020. Get it? The search for my verse and word of the year only seemed to lead to a dead end. Or did it?

I panicked earlier this week when I realized that January was nearly over and I hadn’t found my word and verse yet. Was there a deadline? Only in my mind. My husband calls these my “self-imposed” deadlines. He would know! Surely, I can’t start February without having this settled.

I Think I Found It…I Think

Just the other night, I found a potential winner for 2020. And then I lost it! I was using the Bible App on my phone at bedtime when the Holy Spirit drew my attention to a verse that was at least somewhat related to vision. I already had it highlighted, so I simply filed 46:9 away in my brain. I remember thinking that I wouldn’t forget that because the verse after it is one of my favorites—“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) So, the next day I go to take a closer look at that verse on my iPad and literally couldn’t find it. Psalm 46:9 had nothing to do with vision. Now what? I stewed about this the whole day and kept checking verses that I could have confused with Psalm 46:9. But, to no avail. At bedtime that night, I was on my phone and looked at my recent searches. And there it was—ISAIAH 46:9. Oops…I was looking in the wrong book of the Bible!

My word for 2020 is REMEMBER. Apparently, I am deficient in that skill so it seems to be a very appropriate choice! My verse, Isaiah 46:9, states:

“Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.”

A Lesson That Stuck

The first experience I had in leading a small group occurred about 15 years ago when my whole church participated in the “Old Testament Challenge”. I often tell my students or my small group that you get out of it what you put into it. “It” is either the class I’m teaching or the study that I’m leading. It’s true! I get way more out of the studies that I lead than the studies that I am simply a participant. Why? Because I have to put time into preparing so I don’t look like a fool! So, I remember (LOL) one lesson in particular from that study that fits nicely with this verse. But first, allow me to set the stage.

God’s Plan

After 40 years of wandering in the desert, the Israelites, under the direction of Joshua, were finally ready to stake their claim to the land God had promised them so long ago. Their first obstacle was the Jordan River. God, of course, had it all figured out. So, He had Joshua relay His message to the Israelites regarding what was about to transpire. The priests would lead the way, carrying the Ark of the Covenant. When they stepped into the Jordan, the flow of water would be cut off and the river would stand up like a wall. This would allow the Israelites to pass through on dry ground while the priests stood in the middle of the Jordan riverbed with the Ark.

How’s that for a plan? Of all the ways to get across the Jordan River, I have a feeling that this plan never crossed your mind. Mine either. Look how my verse for the year ends—“For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.” That explains why this plan never occurred to us!

It all shook out exactly the way God said it would. I wonder how many jaws had to be picked off the riverbed as the people made their way to the other side?

The Story Isn’t Over

Next, the Lord told Joshua to choose 12 men, one from each tribe, and have them take 12 stones from the riverbed where the priests were standing. They were to carry them out and pile them up where they would be camping that night. Joshua did as directed and the twelve men complied. These stones were going to be used to build a memorial. Why do we have memorials? To REMEMBER!

“Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and he kept it dry until you were all across, just as he did at the Red Sea when he dried it up until we had all crossed over. He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.””

Joshua 4:21-24 NLT

Taking Action

That lesson from the “Old Testament Challenge” encouraged each of us to choose a “memorial” of our own to serve as a reminder of God’s faithfulness in the past. Our memorial doesn’t have to be made of stones. The only qualification necessary is that it helps us REMEMBER.

The Point

When the going gets tough, and Jesus promised that it would, it’s easy to get discouraged. The enemy does whatever he can to drive a wedge between us and God, remember? You may be feeling hopeless right now and ready to give up. If you don’t feel that way now, I’m sure your turn is coming. That is, if you haven’t already had yours. It is at those times that it is critically important to look back and REMEMBER. Reflect on who God is and how He has been faithful in the past. Your vision is 20/20 when looking at your life in the rear-view mirror!

“Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.”

Isaiah 46:9 NLT

The definition of the adjective sovereign is “possessing supreme or ultimate power”. It is a word often used to describe God. Stay tuned for more on that.

It has been a difficult week for several people in my circle of influence—two had their jobs eliminated and one is having his lung surgically removed following a cancer diagnosis as I write this. And that’s just a small sample of the difficulties people I care about are currently experiencing! Life is hard at times, isn’t it? That’s what makes the timing of this week’s small group lesson perfect. We are currently studying “40 Verses to Ignite Your Faith” by Laurie Polich Short. In her book, Laurie gleans much meaning from 40 lesser known verses from the Bible and shares it with her readers. They are verses that I’ve probably read a hundred times and skimmed right past. Here is one that particularly caught my attention this week, considering all that was going on around me:

“He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.””

Ezekiel 37:3 NIV

Allow me to provide the backdrop of this verse. The prophet Ezekiel is standing in a valley full of dry, dead bones and God wants to know the extent of Ezekiel’s faith. You see, the Israelites were being held captive in Babylon at the time. Ezekiel prophesied a bright future for them in the preceding chapter, one where they would be united and strong. No part of that message seemed possible given their current predicament. It is in this valley of bones that God reveals a vision of miraculous hope to Ezekiel. The impossible becomes possible—the bones come to life, representing the bright future He has for the Israelites.

God often reveals His power to us while we are in the valley of despair. In Laurie’s words, “Our places of despair set the stage for hope.” I have been known to say that God does His best work in the valley. That may not quite be the correct wording. Often, I can look back later from a different vantage point and see the magnitude of His work in me while in the valley. It’s much more noticeable than when I’m standing on top of the mountain. It is also in the valley where we have the opportunity to demonstrate that our faith is real.

Ezekiel’s response to God’s question in Verse 3 has become my battle cry this week as I encounter so many who are hurting. I am at a loss. “Sovereign Lord, you alone know” clears the way for the miracles God has in mind. I imagine, if you’re anything like me, you have an idea for how you would like God to answer your valley prayers (and probably when too!). We limit Him when we ask Him to answer in a specific way and possibly set ourselves up for disappointment in the process. God sees the big picture and by acknowledging His sovereignty, we make room for how He wants to answer our prayers. He’s often up to something much bigger than the prayers we pray.

Let’s open the door and witness the unfolding miracle God has for us.

“Sovereign Lord, you alone know!”