Have you ever felt tired and weak? I’m sure we all have from time to time. I was re-reading some verses in Isaiah (Isa 40:28-31) which I’ve read many times, but they encouraged me again today. Verse 28 says that God is never weary which is encouraging in itself! Then verse 29 tells us that God gives us His strength, “He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength” (NKJV). He doesn’t just give strength but increases it! This is a great verse to confess if you need strength. Then verse 31 tells us that those who wait on the Lord will have renewed strength and will even be like eagles, soaring effortlessly. I find it interesting that some versions say those that “wait on the Lord” while others say, “those who trust the Lord.” Either way, we have a part to play. The Hebrew word actually means “to wait, look for, hope, expect.” We must be expecting God to do what He says He will do. Spending time in His presence is waiting on God and that is what leads to strength. I like the way the AMPC uses the analogy of eagles mounting up “close to God.” When we spend time waiting on God we can soar into His presence and be strengthened and then we will, “run and not be weary” and “walk and not faint or become tired” (Isa 40:31b; AMPC). Spend some time waiting on God today and find strength in His presence.

We don’t hear a lot about humility these days but it is to be a significant characteristic of Christians (Phil 2:5-7; 1 Peter 5:5-6). Humility is to be modest in our opinions of ourselves, lacking in arrogance and self-promotion and more concerned for others than ourselves. Jesus is the ultimate example of humility, He left heaven and became a man operating in obedience to the Father, even to death on a cross (Phil 2:5-8). I always carry a picture in my mind of Jesus on His knees, washing the feet of His disciples (John 13:5). The apostle Paul certainly walked in humility; he planted so many churches in his ministry and wrote a significant part of the New Testament and yet he regarded himself as, “the least of the apostles” (1 Cor 15:9; NKJV). The apostle Peter wrote that, “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble” and he exhorted us to, “humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1Peter 5:5b,6; NKJV). Come with a lowly attitude and God will bless you (John 4:10). We must be aware of God’s warnings in the area of humility. He warns us not to think too highly of ourselves (Rom 12:3), not to praise ourselves but to let others do that (Prov 27:2) and that, “Pride goes before destruction. And a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov 16:18; NKJV). On a more positive note, let’s be encouraged by the facts that God gives grace, favour (James 4:6; Prov 3:34) honour, (Prov 29:23), rewards, riches and life to those who walk in humility (Prov 22:4). Clearly humility should be a hallmark of our lives.

In Mark 12, verses 30 and 31 we read about a conversation Jesus had with one of the scribes. Jesus told him that the principal commandment was to love God and secondly, we should love our neighbour as ourselves. We have all probably read those words many times. The apostle John reminds us of this in his epistle (1 John 3:23; 4:7, 20). However, I find it interesting that the apostle Paul encourages us to not just love others but to excel in this, “And this I pray, that your love may abound more and more” (Phil 1:9; NKJV). The word translated “abound” has the meaning of, “superabound, excess, greatly surpass, excel.” The word for love is “agape” the unconditional, unselfish love of God. Then in addressing the Thessalonians Paul tells them to, “increase and excel and overflow in love for one another and all people” (1 Thess 3:12; AMPC). He reiterates it in the next chapter, telling them again to increase more and more in loving others (1 Thess 4:10). The apostle Peter also encourages this excellence in love, “Above all things have fervent love for one another” (1 Peter 4:8; NKJV). You may be thinking this is too hard and of course it is in our own ability, but we can call on the Holy Spirit to help us. Love is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, and he will grow God’s love in us if we allow him to. Remember, Jesus said when you excel in love for, “one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (Matt 25:40; NKJV).

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God and, is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17; NKJV). The Bible was written by men but under the inspiration of God and is therefore God’s word to us. Growing up I was taught from the Bible, but to me it was merely stories and directions from God concerning right and wrong. All that changed when I became a Christian and the Holy Spirit came to live in me (1 Cor 6:19). The Holy Spirit reveals God’s word to us and brings the Bible alive (John 14:26). God’s word is life and truth (John 6:63; 17:17) and the truth of God’s word will set us free (John 8:31). Free from what? Free from all the effects of sin in our past lives, including spiritual death and separation from God (Rom 6:23; Eph 2:1). God’s word is powerful, working effectively in us to discern whether our thoughts and actions are of God and with the power of the Holy Spirit, enabling us to change to be more and more like Jesus (Heb 4:12; 1 Thess 2:13; 2 Cor 3:18). This requires that God’s word should always be in our words, and we should be meditating on it day and night (Josh 1:8). We are exhorted to, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Col 3:16; NKJV) and live, “by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord” (Deut 8:3). We are assured that God’s word will always achieve what it promises in our lives (Isa 35:11), PTL!

“For you Lord have not forsaken those who seek you” (Ps 9:10; NKJV). Seek means to enquire, require, consult, to seek God in prayer and worship. It is not just a casual looking but an earnest lifetime pursuit. The Bible has much to say about seeking God. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that God rewards those who earnestly seek Him and Matthew 6:33 assures us that if we make seeking God a priority then everything we need will be provided for us. Likewise, Psalm 34:10 tells us that if we seek the Lord, we will have no lack of anything good. James 4:8 promises us that if we draw near to God then He will respond by drawing near to us. Jeremiah 29:13 states that if we seek God with all our heart then we will find Him (see also Prov 8:17, Luke 11:9 and Deut 4:29). 1 Chronicles 16:11 tells us that we should seek God’s face always (see also Psalm 105:4). What does it mean to seek His face? According to the AMPC it means to “yearn for His presence.” It is reiterated in the familiar verse of 2 Chronicles 7:14. King David was someone who sought the Lord with his whole heart, “O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you, my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water” (Ps 63:1; NLT). As we enter this new year let’s make David’s prayer in Psalm 27 verse 4 our prayer for this year; “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple” (Ps 27:4; NIV).