#MeditationMonday‬ – Out of the abundance of a man’s heart, his mouth speaks.

Hello everyone, how’s life going? I hope this message meets you well. This week, we’ll be meditating on Isaiah 43:1-2.

But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.

— Isaiah 43:1 & 2 (NKJV)

Just going to start off by saying that, I don’t know about you but Isaiah 43 makes me feel pretty important!

I urge you to read this verse and insert your name where you see “Jacob” & “Israel”, read it that way and know that God, the most high and the king of kings is saying these things to YOU.

God is very possessive when it comes to things that belong to Him. We belong to Him, we are His children and He is a fierce and protective father. It is important to note that fire and water are often mentioned in scripture to denote calamity because one overwhelms and the other consumes. So verse 2 really demonstrates how far God is willing to go for us. God is willing to accompany us in the most dire of situations, in our calamity! God will never leave us to do anything on our own as long as we are staying in His will and obeying His instructions.

More particularly, I want to point out that scripture uses when and not if.

WHEN YOU PASS THROUGH THE WATERS

WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH THE FIRE

This tells me that at some point, it WILL happen. It is not “If” as in oh darling on the off chance, you happen to be walking through fire, don’t worry I’ll be there. It is When as in honey, at some point, you’ll definitely pass through fire and I’ll pass through it with you.

This isn’t to scare you. It just shows how amazing God is.

God formed each of us, called us out and redeemed us. He already knew that at some point in our lives we’re going to be in heavy trouble so He took the time to reassure us ages ago through His word (that lasts forever btw!), that He’ll be there with us in our trouble. Not only will He be with us, because what use is it if He’s with us and we still perish right? He will also make sure that we won’t drown, neither shall we be burned or scorched. If that’s not amazing, I don’t know what is.

Many of us are scared for our future: exam results, money, parents, job, marriage, children etc. The list never ends, the cycle never breaks. In such times of trouble, take out time to look up this scripture, insert your name and read it over and over again. It is a prophetic declaration into your life.

This scripture isn’t God saying He’ll be there for us only in the big times of trouble, there are little times of stress and anxiety too that we can apply this to as well. If you have a tough job or something that stresses you out each day, no matter how little it is, take it to God. Whenever you are about to face a challenge, big or small, just meditate on these verses.

Put your first name where you see Jacob and put your middle name where you see Israel, then where it says, “I will be with you” say “God will be with me” and read it over and over. I encourage you to do this throughout the week.

You can also turn the verses to a prayer like this:

I FEAR NOT, FOR God Has REDEEMED me;
He has CALLED me BY my NAME;
I am His.

WHEN I PASS THROUGH THE WATERS, God WILL BE WITH me;
AND THROUGH THE RIVERS, THEY SHALL NOT OVERFLOW me.
WHEN I WALK THROUGH THE FIRE, I SHALL NOT BE BURNED,

NOR SHALL THE FLAME SCORCH me.

Prayer: Dear God, I thank you for redeeming me. Please help me never to return to the chains of bondage you’ve freed me from. I take comfort in your word that you’ll be with me and won’t let my calamity overwhelm me. Lord, I ask that you guide me through every challenge so that my actions may always bring glory to your name. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Grace & Peace!