In my recent prayers to the Lord, I was encouraged and strengthened by what He revealed to me and which I now share with you.

The God of Creation, the Maker of heaven and earth says, “even though I have left you for a while, I have not forgotten you.” This is the promise the Lord made when He spoke through his prophet Isaiah, in Chapter 54.

In Verses 2 – 3, the Lord calls His people to: “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities”. Here, the divine grace and glory of the Lord empowers His people to sow spiritual seeds where His churches will be built and there, they will dwell. This still holds true today, as our glorious Lord calls His church to take His gospel to the nations just as the fire of the Holy Spirit is sweeping across the nations of the world. Hallelujah and glory to the Lord!

Verses 5 – 7 says, “For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. For the LORD has called you like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit, like a wife of youth when she is cast off, says your God. For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you”.

Our God, who loves His people, is slow to anger and abounding in love. His mercies are great and He wants to correct us, when we are wrong in our ways. The contrast here is not that of the duration when the Lord appears to have forsaken His people, but of the magnitude of His mercies. As the Lord had said, it is by His compassion that He gathers His people again. Let us respond to God in truth and honesty as we repent before Him of our wrongdoings. He will be merciful and will restore us and renew our spirit.

The Lord has called His church to remain faithful and obedient; to be strong and bold in Him; to wait on the Lord, and stand firm in Him, even in the days of desolation and tribulation when we may be afflicted and tossed. The Lord reminded us that He knows our griefs and fears and says in v14, “In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you”. He adds in Isaiah 40: 31, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint”. This is the Lord and God whom we worship and whose Kingdom, we serve.

When we stand before Him, we will receive an inheritance as a reward. For this is the promise of Colossians 3: 23 – 24, which reminds us that, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving”. Yes, this is the Lord Jesus Christ we are serving!

Let us remain steadfast in His love and power, as we march on in the blessed name of the Lord and in His glory, till He comes again! In keeping with the divine grace of the Lord and through righteousness, the faithful will be able to stand firm. For again we are promised in Psalm 84:11 that “The Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favour and honour; no good things does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless”.

Here and again, as we hold on to the promises of the Lord by faith, He will see us through all circumstances at all times, confirming in 2 Corinthians 9:8 “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work”. The Lord equips and empowers us to carry out His work for His glory and honour, to be seen in all the earth.

Again in Isaiah 54: 15 – 17 the Lord states his position in regard to protection of his people saying, “If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you. Behold, I have created the blacksmith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the spoiler to destroy; no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgement. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.”

We, his church, are glorious when full of the knowledge of God. This is the promise of the teachings and gifts of the Holy Spirit. This relates especially to the glorious times to succeed the tribulations of the church. The Lord has clearly told his church, “Be holy for, I AM HOLY”. God promises protection for His people, for it is through righteousness by which they are justified, and by grace which they are sanctified, all of which, are the free gift of God.

The Lord spoke through Jude, the servant of the Lord and brother of James in Jude 1:15 that the day is soon coming when He will pour out His judgement upon the ungodly. He will convict the sinners of their ungodly deeds and of the harsh and ungodly things spoken against Him.

Family of God and saints, the Word of the Living Lord bears God’s promises and will see us through all times and circumstances. Let us hold on to His promises, walk in His light and footsteps and declare His Word and truth as we bear witnesses to His glory in our lives, till our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

Amen and Amen.