Author's Note: All previous volumes of this series are here. The first 56 volumes are compiled into the book "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible." "Part Two," featuring volumes 57-113, was published in December 2022.
Thanks for joining us today. At the start of each week, I usually have no clue what you are going to read on Sunday. But I am always confident that the Lord knows and will make it clear when I start writing on Thursday. However, due to this week’s schedule, I needed to write the study on Monday, even though no “divinely inspired” topic had appeared. So, on Saturday, I decided to randomly open the Bible and write about whatever jumped out. Then, like manna from heaven, the perfect passage appeared about when the Lord spoke to Isaiah:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:8-11).
This is why I love the Lord! He chose a meaningful passage for me and perhaps for you as well. We all struggle with issues, projects, and jobs — whatever we pray for the Lord to help bring to fruition. We are human, and therefore we are IMPATIENT! We want what we want on our timetable, which usually means now.
But for those who have faith and trust in the Lord, we know what He teaches through Isaiah, we are supposed to follow. Nonetheless, when we go about our lives and get caught up in the world, it is difficult to operationalize and integrate into our brains, “for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.”
The good news is if you seek God’s will, what you want does happen when He deems it so. The Lord told Isaiah, “…so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
If you are trying to “accomplish that which I purpose,” trust in God’s timetable since He sees the past, present, and future. We are on His earth, and He is the Almighty Heavenly Creator. Time started with Him. Therefore, His perspective about our life is all-knowing since He told Jeremiah (and this verse applies to us all except the last part):
“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you before you were born, I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).
God’s wisdom is incomprehensible to the human mind. Therefore, know with certainty that He will make it happen if He wants us to have whatever we are working toward. God will accomplish through us what He wants for His purpose. If not, it was not meant to be. Then, at some point, we will have that “ah-ha” moment when we understand why what we wanted did not happen, and we are thankful.
This Isaiah passage also encourages us to love and serve the Lord because it crystalizes God’s glory. In times of uncertainty, doubt, and failure, Isaiah 55: 8-11 is your go-to passage that positions your life in relation to God’s greatness and infinite power where “nothing is impossible with God.” Doubling down on that wisdom, taped to my computer, is a favorite verse:
“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).
But wait, there is more! Before writing this study, I heard a hymn in church. The lyrics resonated, and I felt called to share them to complement Isaiah. The hymn, infused with Bible verses, is titled “Servant Song.” You can listen to it here and read along:
“What do you want of me, Lord?
Where do you want me to serve you?
Where can I sing your praises?
I am your song.
Jesus, Jesus, you are the Lord. Jesus, Jesus, you are the way.
I hear you call my name, Lord,
and I am moved within me.
Your Spirit stirs my deepest self.
Sing your songs in me.
Jesus, Jesus, you are my Lord. Jesus, Jesus, you are the way.
Above, below, and around me.
Before, behind and all through me
your Spirit burns deep within me.
Fire my life with your love.
Jesus, Jesus, be warmth of my heart. Jesus, Jesus, you are the way.
You are the light in my darkness. You are my strength when I'm weary.
You give me sight when I'm blinded.
Come see for me.
Jesus, Jesus, you are my light.
Jesus, Jesus, you are the way.
I am your song and servant,
Singing your praises like Mary.
Surrendered to your spirit
Let it be done to me!
Jesus, Jesus, let it be done to me!
Jesus, Jesus, you are the way.”
If today, you need a lift along life’s bumpy path, inject a dose of renewal into your soul from the message of “Servant Song” and the Lord’s words to Isaiah.
Amen to that!
Myra Kahn Adams is a conservative political and religious writer with numerous national credits. Her book, "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible," reprints the first 56 volumes of this popular study. "Part 2,” with the same title, reprints Vols. 57-113. Order it here.
She is also the Executive Director of the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit, dedicated to building a future permanent Shroud of Turin exhibit in Washington, D.C. In July, The National Shroud of Turin Exhibit hosted a four-day exhibit (with a VIP guest) at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, IN. Contact: <MyraAdams01@gmail.com>
Join the conversation as a VIP Member